Amazing Health Benefits of Coconut Oil and Oil Pulling

I want to share with you my adamant belief that so many of the foods we eat are literally killing us and causing us to have really horrible diseases and lowering the quality and longevity of our lives. Fortunately there is something we can do about this. We don't have to eat the junk food and the processed food and drink the carbonated drinks or high sugar energy drinks that are recommended by those whose basic intent is to make money off us, regardless of the ill affects on our health.

We can control what we eat. We can control what we drink. We can control the way we look and feel! And we can do it without going to an obesity specialist or a nutritional doctor or taking radical medicines that our doctors are more than willing to prescribe to us.

There are so many 'natural' products and substances available to us that are incredibly healthy but no one tells us about them. Why is that? Could it be that they simply aren't profitable? Well, I want to share some of my latest discoveries with you. And I couldn't be more excited to tell you about them than I am right now!

Coconut Oil

There is absolutely no way I can give this natural product more praise and credit. It is phenomenal in it's healing benefits and over all uses that can take the place of most other things we use that contain harmful chemicals and ingredients. In its raw and unrefined state, Coconut Oil (Virgin Unrefined Coconut Oil) is a miracle, fountain of youth product and should be considered by anyone who wants to look better, feel better, lose weight, fight off disease, eliminate pain and on and on. It's benefits are unlimited.

How I discovered the amazing benefits of Coconut Oil:

Years ago I used a product to cleanse my face that was made by Dr. Erno Lazlo, a famous doctor and cosmetologist who believed that cleansing the skin with oil was the best way to fight acne, dry skin, and deter the signs of aging. I used this product for years and my skin was always glowing and without blemishes. It was only after I moved to Arizona that I quit using the product in 1995. The climate here was very different than Texas and my skin reacted in terrible ways, exhibiting signs of dryness and dehydration. It was also about the same time that alpha-hydroxy products were first introduced to the public and women were using those and Retin-A to combat aging. My skin was dry and not realizing that I was simply going through a 'climate change' I quit using my Erno Lazlo oil and began trying other products, none of which I was ever that pleased with. The healthy glow that I had enjoyed for so many years seemed to fade the longer I lived here and I attributed it to the Arizona climate. I spent a fortune on skin products that promised what they could not deliver. It was only recently, in my efforts for self-improvement of my over all body, that I decided to see if Erno Lazlo was still on the market. During my research I found that it was still available and while not the most expensive product on the market, it was pricier than I could afford to pay. I decided to google oil cleansing for the face and see if someone had come up with another product that might be the same and less expensive. To my amazement I came up with hundreds of hits on Coconut Oil. And not just for face cleansing and moisturizing but for hair and skin and diet and disease and everything else under the sun you can think of. I watched youtube after youtube about this amazing natural product and decided that it was definitely worth a try. After all, it is natural. What about it could possibly harm you? I had read post after post in forums where women and men were taking it to lose weight, with fabulous results. It seemed this miracle substance is a natural fat burner when it is in its unrefined state.

Upon further research I learned that in the 1930's and early 1940's that it was very commonly used but that once manufacturers began to market and refine it, researchers put out material saying how bad it was for you. The refining process, as is true of most processed foods, radically changed the natural substance into something that had a completely different affect on the body and thusly the public basically quit using coconut oil.

Now I plan to give you a link to get you started reading some official data on Coconut Oil but first I want to share my experience with you. I bought a jar of the unrefined Virgin Coconut oil at Sunflower's. It's the closest market to where I live and they are like a small version of Whole Foods. It cost me around $11.00 for a 14 oz bottle.

I admit I wasn't sure at first exactly how to use it, in spite of the many youtubes I watched. And the thought of drinking spoonfuls of coconut oil while I was dieting seemed to be counter productive to me but I kept reading testimonial after testimonial from posters who were doing this exact thing and were losing weight and feeling fabulous. Was it really possible that Coconut Oil was a serious fat burning product? Well...the truth is: It works!!!

What was so interesting is that, just as I am sharing this with you here, the people who were posting on the forums had absolutely nothing to gain by sharing. They had nothing to profit other than to share their beneficial experiences with other human beings.

It has been almost three weeks now since I first began to use CO and I can't begin to tell you how much it has simply changed my life! I have lost weight in spite of cheating on my diet and the fat on my body is transforming into muscle and a different shape. My skin is soft and glowing and my energy level is at the highest it has been in years. I sleep the most restful sleep I have had in years and wake up feeling fresh and without any kind of body aches. My constipation, which I have suffered from all of my life is gone, and for the first time ever I have regular bowel movements. My protruding belly is going down and getting flatter, even without doing sit ups or other exercises, which I have taken a brief respite from while I continue my diet. (I am still doing laps in the pool I do want to add.)

I cleanse my face with the pure oil and my skin feels so soft and dewy and I can definitely see a difference in the tone and clarity and smoothness of my complexion. I simply put a small amount on my skin and gently rub it all over my face and then with a warm washcloth I steam my face and then gently wash the remaining residue off. I was so happy that it didn't irritate my sensitive eyes as most eye makeup removers do. I do this at night and after cleaning I mix a couple of drops of oil into a very small amount of Neutrogena Moisturizer for Sensitive skin, rub my hands together and pat this all over my face, and under my eyes. When I wake up in the mornings I only use a wet washcloth to freshen my skin and that's that. My skin hasn't looked this good since I used Erno Lazlo all those years and I was much younger then. Also, I have noticed that a few wrinkles that were bothering me have basically disappeared. I am convinced I have stumbled onto the 'fountain of youth' and I want to share my new found discovery with you!

Now in the process of discovering and experiencing the benefits of CO I have also discovered some other very important healthy things to do and I want to share those as well.

Oil Pulling

What the heck is Oil Pulling you are probably thinking. Well, I thought the same thing when I first discovered it. It was while researching Coconut Oil further that I came across this ancient process and found that there are many people who are going back to some of the natural practices of other countries not dictated to by the FDA and AMA and Oil Pulling is one of the most important discoveries I have found.

What is it? It is very simply just swishing oil around in your mouth the very first thing in the morning when you arise. You can use different types of oil. The most commonly used are Sesame Oil, Sunflower Oil and Coconut Oil. I use Coconut Oil. You simply take a tablespoon and swish it around for 15 to 20 minutes while you are doing something else, like taking a shower, checking your email, whatever you do in the mornings. The time goes by very quickly. Then you spit it out (not swallowing any) into the toilet or waste can. Over time, the oil can build up in the drain and create problems so this is the recommended way of disposing of it.

Why do this? Simple! The mouth is where all diseases begin. We have millions of bacteria living inside our mouths. The oil pulling pulls out the toxins through the gums and it works not only on the mouth but on our entire system. Believe it or not it has been found to cure arthritis, high blood pressure, prevent heart attacks and strokes, cure diabetes, Crohn's Disease and even Aids...to name only a few. Again...it is a miracle cure. It also strengthens the bone in your teeth, makes your gums incredibly healthy, prevents tooth decay and loss and is a miracle tooth whitener as well. Right now you must be thinking I have seriously lost it. But I have tried this now for two weeks and I am totally amazed with the results. My gums haven't been this healthy for a very long time and any sensitivity I had in my teeth to hot or cold is now gone. My mouth always feels so much fresher after I do the OP (oil pulling) and I rinse my mouth well afterward and then floss and brush with toothpaste. Not regular toothpaste, mind you, but my own 'homemade toothpaste' which I will share the recipe with you for.

Home Made Tooth Paste

After I began the OP I also did some research on the ill effects of Fluoride and decided that I wanted to do the healthiest thing I could for my teeth and body so I researched different homemade toothpaste recipes and chose this one:

You mix 5 teaspoons Baking Soda, 5 teaspoons vegetable glycerin, 5 drops Tea Tree oil (100% pure Australian) and if desired 5 teaspoons Peppermint Tincture (from the health food store) or you can put in 3 to 5 drops of pure Stevia for sweetness. (I do that instead of the peppermint.) Mix in a small plastic container or jar until it forms a nice paste. Keep refrigerated when not using and it should last for a week or two, depending on how often you brush your teeth and how much you use when brushing. Do not dip your toothbrush into the mixture. Use a spoon to get it out and dip your wet toothbrush into the spoon while you are brushing your teeth to get the desired amount. I use about a half a teaspoon each time I brush my teeth (always flossing first) and my teeth have never felt cleaner and I can definitely tell they are getting whiter without having to use whitening products on my teeth that do not have veneers on them.

I will never use fluoride again. I'm convinced it is poison and damages the enamel on our teeth. You might hear that the baking soda can also be damaging to the enamel but this isn't true when you use it with the very lubricating vegetable glycerin. In fact many toothpaste manufacturers also offer Baking soda formulas, but then they also contain other harmful chemicals which are not good for us.

I guess that's enough sharing with you for today. I hope you will look at some of the links I have provided for you and if you think it's something you are interested in...give it a try!

It's working for me I'm very happy to say!!!

I love you!

Rambling Rice

All my life I've wanted to know how to cook that perfect fluffy rice you get at Chinese restaurants. But I wanted to cook all kinds of rice recipes with the rice really fluffy and perfect. I think I've had the worst experiences cooking rice than any other thing I've ever attempted to cook.

I normally use the 5 minute rice just because it's basically fail safe. But all the wonderful recipes I really have wanted to make call for 'real rice' and not the quickie kind.

Once when I had dinner guests the rice recipe was such a disaster that it turned out more like rice soup. I KNOW I put the right amounts of rice and water in and it still turned out like soup. It had to cook an extra hour (holding dinner up) with a paper towel in between the lid and pot, as my dinner guest recommended, before it was finally anything near right.

I've had so many horrible rice adventures that I finally almost gave up and now I'm determined to get it right. I love rice so why not learn to cook it correctly. And there are so many wonderful rice recipes from all over the world that I decided to research and find ones that sound really great and try them, sharing the results (or the actual food itself) with you.

But first....I need to learn the very explicit and correct way to cook rice so that it's perfect every time and that is what I'm in the process of doing.

I've researched how to cook rice all the world. Africa, Brazil, France, Spain, Indonesia, Russia, China, Iran, Afghanistan, et al. The same basic principles always apply. There are definite dos and don'ts. This is what I have basically come up with:

How to Cook Rice

One cup of raw rice yields about three cups of cooked rice.

There are hundreds of different varieties of rice grown worldwide, but most cooks only need to know a few basic ratios to cook rice perfectly.

1. There are short-grain, medium-grain, and long-grained varieties of rice: each type is used for different types of rice dishes and cuisines.

• White rice has been milled to remove the outer husk--the bran and the germ of the grain--and cooks more quickly than brown rice.
• Arborio rice is an example of a medium-grained, starchy rice used to make risotto. The constant stirring required during the cooking process releases starch that helps thicken the dish.
• Glutinous rice, also known as "sticky rice" is used in Asian specialties. It's a short-grained rice that is generally steamed, not boiled.
• Basmati rice is an elegant and fragrant long-grained rice grown in areas of India and Pakistan.
• Wild rice is actually a grass seed and is not considered a "true" rice, although it's often found in rice blends and pilaf mixes.

2. White rice is highly refined and polished and does not require washing before cooking. Recipes using other types of rice, such as Basmati, occasionally call for soaking or rinsing the rice before cooking to remove extra starch.

3. To cook long-grained white rice:

Put 1 cup of rice and 1½ cups of water in a small (one-quart) saucepan with a tight-fitting lid.

4. Bring the water to a boil over high heat. Steam should be coming out from under the lid; keep the pot covered and don't peek under the lid. (For novice rice cooks, a glass lid is a big help.)

5. Reduce the heat to very low. The rice grains swell as they absorb the water. If the temperature is too high, the bottom of the pan of rice can scorch while the top rice is still undercooked. Set a timer for 20 minutes.

6. When the timer rings, turn off the burner and remove the pan from the heat. Let the rice sit, covered, for an additional 5 minutes (and no peeking under the lid--the steam will escape).

7. Remove the lid and fluff the rice with a fork to separate the grains.

• You can serve the rice immediately, or put the lid back on to keep it warm while you finish cooking the rest of your meal.
• To chill rice for a salad, spread it out on a sheet pan to cool quickly.
• For food safety reasons, rice should never be left out at room temperature longer than two hours.

8. Other rice cooking ratios:

Follow directions on the package, or use these guidelines:

To cook brown rice:
Use 1 cup of rice and 2 cups of water. Bring the water to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for 45 minutes. Let stand, covered, for 10 minutes before serving.

To cook basmati or jasmine rice: Follow the instructions for long-grained white rice.

To cook wild rice: Use 1 cup of rice to 3 cups of water. Bring the water to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for 45 minutes. Let stand, covered, for 10 minutes before serving.

To cook rice pilaf:
For pilaf dishes, rice is sauteed in oil in order to keep the grains separate during cooking. Cook the rice, stirring constantly, for 2 to 3 minutes or until the rice becomes translucent before adding the cooking liquid. Pilafs can be made on the stovetop or in the oven.

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Those are the basics! But I have also heard some things to the contrary. Such as, one should always soak any kind of rice in cold water for 30 minutes before cooking and also that no matter what kind of rice it is the ratio of rice to liquid should always be 1 part rice to 2 parts liquid. And NO lifting the lid until it is done. Majorly important! (So I have read) It does go along with my experiences, however. I know I have always peeked and stirred and fooled with the temperature. No wonder I've had so much back luck with rice.

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Now, in my search for some recipes to try I have found these to be the most interesting to me and I'm just dying to try them.

They are in no particular order but they're from all over the world.

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Mexican Rice II

By: Mommyto2

"This is a wonderful side dish for any Mexican dinner."

Prep Time:
5 Min

Cook Time:
25 Min

Ready In:
30 Min

Servings 4

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 cup uncooked long-grain rice
• 1 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 cup tomato sauce
• 2 cups chicken broth

Directions

1. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat and add rice. Cook, stirring constantly, until puffed and golden. While rice is cooking, sprinkle with salt and cumin.
2. Stir in onions and cook until tender. Stir in tomato sauce and chicken broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes. Fluff with a fork.

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Mexican Rice III

By: ALANASMOM

"This is an excellent authentic Mexican rice recipe (not to be confused with Spanish rice) that I make as a side dish with all of my Mexican dishes. The key is cooking the rice properly and using good quality chicken broth or stock."

Ingredients

* 1 cup long grain white rice
* 1 tablespoon vegetable oil (do not use olive oil as it will burn the rice)
* 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
* 1/2 onion, finely chopped
* 1/2 green bell pepper, finely chopped
* 1 fresh jalapeno pepper, chopped
* 1 tomato, seeded and chopped
* 1 cube chicken bouillon
* salt and pepper to taste
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
* 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
* 1 clove garlic, halved

Prep Time:
5 Min
Cook Time:
25 Min
Ready In:
30 Min


Directions:

1. In a medium sauce pan, cook rice in oil over medium heat for about 3 minutes. Pour in chicken broth, and bring to a boil. Stir in onion, green pepper, jalapeno, and diced tomato. Season with bouillon cube, salt and pepper, cumin, cilantro, and garlic. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to low. Cook for 20 minutes.

Alternate directions from a review:

(Authentic or not, this is a fabulous recipe...I leave out the bell pepper though simply because I don't like it. Also, brown the rice along with the onion and garlic for best flavor, and squeeze in the juice of 1/2 fresh lime just before covering. THE SECRET TO GETTING THE RICE TO "FLUFF UP" is 1) use long grain white rice, 2) make sure whatever liquid you use is HOT when you add it, 3) ALWAYS use twice as much liquid as rice (1 cup rice, 2 cups chicken broth or water) and 4) once you cover your pot and turn your burner to low, DON'T TOUCH the rice, DON'T LIFT the lid, don't stir it, let it do it's thing. After 20 minutes turn burner off but let the pot sit for at least another 5 - 10 minutes before removing the lid. You will have perfect rice, every time.)

*Another secret to perfect rice is to soak the rice in cold water for 30 minutes and then drain, prior to cooking.

Nutritional Information
Servings Per Recipe: 6
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 159
* Total Fat: 2.9g
* Cholesterol: 2mg
* Sodium: 675mg
* Total Carbs: 29.2g
* Dietary Fiber: 1.1g
* Protein: 3.4g

_________________________________________________________________

African Vegetable Rice This recipe is easy to make, and can be made in an hour and a half . A vegetarian recipe that can be made Vegan by substituting oil for butter. . This tasty dish from West Africa can make an ideal light meal. Try with a lentil soup or dal or plain yogurt or baked salmon. Ingredients - Serves 4-6 12 oz. [2 cups] long-grain rice, washed, soaked in cold water for 30 minutes and drained 2 cups chicken broth 3 chicken bullion cubes 2 teaspoons salt 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper 4 oz. [1/4 cup] butter [or 4 tablespoons veg. oil] 1 large fresh jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped 1 large-sized white onion, finely chopped 3 large tomatoes, seeded, and chopped I large yellow pepper, white pith removed, seeded and finely chopped 2 celery stalks, trimmed and finely chopped 8 oz. broccoli, trimmed and chopped in small bits 8 oz. mushrooms, washed and finely sliced 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper Preparation 1. Put the rice in a large saucepan. Pour over the broth and chopped jalapeno and add 1/2 teaspoon garlic and 1 1/2 teaspoons of the salt. 2. Place the pan over moderately high heat and bring the water to the boil. Cover the pan, reduce the heat to low and simmer the rice for 30 to 35 minutes or until all the liquid has been absorbed and the rice is tender. Remove the pan from the heat and set aside. Once covered do not lift lid. 3. In a large frying-pan, melt the butter over moderate heat. When the foam subsides, add the onion and fry, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 7 minutes or until it is soft and translucent but not brown. Add the tomatoes, yellow pepper, celery and broccoli. Fry, stirring frequently, for 10 minutes or until the vegetables begin to soften. Add the mushrooms to the pan and fry, stirring frequently, for a further 3 minutes. Season with the remaining salt, garlic and the cayenne. 4. Add the rice to the pan and stir the mixture until it is combined. Cook, stirring frequently, for a further 10 minutes or until the mixture is thoroughly heated through. Remove the pan from the heat and serve at once.

United States Wild Rice with Mushrooms This is a simple yet delicious dish. It can be served as a side dish to the main dish or can be served as a light meal with hummus or any bean dish. Serve with tossed salad, crusty European bread and wine. This recipe is easy to make, and can be made under 40 minutes. Ingredients - Serves 6 2 oz. [1/4 cup] butter 1 medium-sized onion, finely chopped I celery stalk, trimmed and finely chopped 8 oz. [1 1/3 cups] wild rice, washed, soaked overnight and drained 6 oz. button mushrooms, wiped clean and halved 16 fl. oz. [2 cups] home-made chicken or vegetable stock 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 2 oz. [1/2 cup] slivered almonds, toasted Preparation In a large, heavy-based saucepan, melt the butter over moderate heat. When the foam subsides, add the onion and celery and fry, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 7 minutes or until the onion is soft and translucent but not brown. Stir in the rice and mushrooms and fry, stirring constantly, for 3 minutes. Pour over the stock and season the mixture with the salt and pepper. Increase the heat to high and bring the liquid to the boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pan and simmer the mixture for 20 minutes or until the rice is tender and all the liquid has been absorbed. Remove the pan from the heat. Spoon the mixture into a warmed serving dish. Sprinkle over the toasted almonds and serve immediately.

____________________________________________________________ Brazil Brazilian Rice This is a simple rice recipe from Brazil. It is used instead of plain rice. Use it with well seasoned curried dishes. This recipe is easy to make and can be made under half hour. Ingredients - Serves 4-6 4 tablespoons olive oil 1 medium-sized onion, thinly sliced 12 oz. [2 cups] long-grain rice, washed, soaked in cold water for 30 minutes and drained 2 tomatoes, blanched, peeled and chopped 1 teaspoon salt 1 1/4 pints [3 1/8 cups] boiling water Preparation In a large saucepan, heat the oil over moderate heat. Add the onion and fry, stirring constantly, for 5 to 7 minutes or until the onion is soft and translucent but not brown. Add the rice and fry for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the tomatoes and salt. Cook for 2 minutes and then pour in the boiling water. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pan and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the rice is cooked and all the liquid has been absorbed. Turn the rice into a warmed serving dish and serve immediately _________________________________________________________________ Greece Pilaff 'a la Grecque This dish makes a wonderful addition to a Greek menu. Serve with Greek yogurt, salad, sauteed vegetables and Greek wine. This recipe is easy to make, and quick to make. Ingredients - Serves 4-6 2 oz. [1/4 cup] plus 1 tablespoon butter 1 onion, finely chopped 2 garlic cloves, crushed 12 oz. [2 cups] long-grain rice, washed, soaked in cold water for 30 minutes and drained 8 oz. button mushrooms, wiped clean 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon black pepper 1 ½ pints [3 3/4 cups] hot chicken stock 1 bay leaf thinly pared rind of 1 lemon, in one piece GARNISH 2 tablespoons slivered almonds 2 tablespoons raisins 8 large black olives, stoned Preparation In a saucepan, melt 2 ounces [1/4 cup] of the butter over moderate heat. When the foam subsides, add the onion and garlic and fry for 5 to 7 minutes or until the onion is soft and translucent but not brown. Add the rice and cook, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms, and cook, stirring constantly, for 3 minutes. Stir in the salt and pepper and pour in the stock. Increase the heat to high and add the bay leaf and lemon rind. When the stock is boiling vigorously, cover the pan, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes or until the rice is tender and all the liquid has been absorbed. Meanwhile, in a small frying-pan, melt the remaining butter over moderate heat. When the foam subsides, add the almonds and raisins and fry them, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes or until the almonds are browned and the raisins puffed up. Remove the pan from the heat. Remove the pilaff from the heat. Remove and discard the bay leaf and the lemon rind. Spoon the pilaff on to a warmed serving planer and scatter the almonds, raisins and the olives over the top. Serve immediately. _________________________________________________________________ Tonight I'm going to try the Mexican Rice III as a side dish with backed Tony Chachere's seasoned catfish. I'm hoping it will turn out good. I'll let you know! I love you!!!

My New Exercise Routine

1. STRETCHING EXERCISES
2. Do these approx. 10 minutes as a warm up:

3. On tiptoes, reach arms to the sky and stretch out with each arm reaching higher and higher
4. With arms up over head and feet 12” apart, bend down and touch floor in between feet. Raise back up to standing with hands on hips and then touch again, repeating this step until you can put hands flat on floor, if possible. Do in reps of 8.
5. Move feet further apart and do the same as above only this time touch your foot, alternating each time with the different foot. Do in reps of 8.
6. The chair exercise: Holding onto the back of a chair – keep body straight and on tiptoes bend knees slowly as you lower yourself into a squatting position. Do this slowly and rythmically to concentrate on stretching knee ligaments. Do 8 reps. Repeat with feet flat on floor to stretch out calves. Do 8 reps.
7. Still holding chair – With body erect, move one leg out behind you and hold it until you feel it stretching. Do this slowly and gracefully like a ballerina. Do each leg 8 times.
8. To finish the stretching: Reach hands for the sky, breathing very deeply as you do. Exhale as you bend down and nearly touch the floor. Do this 8 times.
9. Rest 30 seconds before continuing to next steps.
   

1. FLOOR EXERCISES
2. Do 8 sissy pushups (with knees on floor) Concentrate on pulling in
3. abdomen while doing these. Try to keep upper body as straight as possible.
4. Lying on back, raise legs up and lower them, almost touching the
5. floor. Bring legs up to chest and then up again, repeating this process until you have done 8 reps.
6. Still lying on back, raise one leg at a time and lower slowly to floor, not touching floor, and raise back up slowly. Do each leg 8 reps.
7. Do 10 regular situps touching toes each time
8. Rest 30 seconds before continuing to next steps.

1. STANDING AND JUMPING EXERCISES
   
2. Do 8 jumping jacks
3. Hop up and down in place 8 times ( Do this 3 times stopping for a couple of secs between each 8 reps.)
4. Run in place 50 steps
5. Rest 30 seconds before continuing to next step.

1. FINAL STRETCH
   
2. Do the “Ballerina Stretch”. This consists of beginning with 8 reaches to the front with arms outstretch, reaching further each time, then left arm overhead and right arm reaching down stretching 8 times, each time reaching further down. Repeat with left arm. Then reduce to 7 times reaching out in front and continue process until you have done only one each.

1. BARBELL EXERCISES
   
2. Doing reps of 8 while standing, do forward, sideward and curling movements with 2 lb weights. Be creative. Stop when you feel you are overdoing it.

* Now I know this doesn't seem like a lot but it's a start and I don't want to overdo it. I keep the little barbells handy and work with them several times a day. As for the other, sometimes I do more reps than on this page. I will be adjusting it upward as soon as I feel I am getting stronger.

I will never look like Christie Brinkley.....

But I am determined to look the best I can for me. It really is amazing how easy it is to put on extra lbs and not even realize it until one day you wake up and realize that you can't wear anything in your closet and that you don't feel good and your body feels like someone elses. It doesn't just happen overnight. It takes a while and that's what happened to me. It's difficult for me to believe I let myself go this way for such a long time before realizing that if I didn't take action now it might be too late. In fact, I wasn't even convinced, after coming out of denial, that it wasn't too late. I was sure I had done irreparable damage to my body through inactivity and weight gain. And I probably have. But that doesn't mean I can't do everything within my power to overcome this self afflicted problem.

I'm not even sure exactly when the weight started to creep up on me. It was so gradual. I recall having to buy a size larger in my clothes and then I would have to buy a size larger than that. Finally I would wear only things that were stretchy and tops that I thought hid my 'problem'.

Going out became even more of a problem because I could never find anything suitable to wear. Nothing fit me. Nothing I wanted to be seen in anyway. I lost interest in going out or even being with friends or family. I was embarrassed.

The breakthrough came one day when I was having difficulty just getting out of bed. And everything hurt. Even the bottoms of my feet hurt. It suddenly dawned on me that I had to take action and simply couldn't stay in denial any longer. I did the dreaded thing and got on the scales. I hadn't done that in years. I was shocked. With each ten lbs I felt I needed to lose I imagined a ten lb sack of potatoes and thinking about my body carrying these around made me realize why I was in pain and so distorted looking. I decided that day to go on a diet and change my life style.

It wasn't easy. But I knew if I didn't do something simple I probably wouldn't stick to it so I decided to go on the Slim-Fast diet. That seemed straightforward enough. Two cans of Slim-Fast a day and a sensible 500 calorie meal at breakfast, lunch or dinner. And snacks which are allowed by the diet too.

The most difficult thing was telling Robert that I wasn't going to be able to eat with him any longer. IOW I was going to be drinking my meals most of the time and also I was going to be eating my dinner no later than 7 PM. Anything after that is simply too difficult for the body to properly digest. Robert and I were in the habit of eating late. I didn't tell him I wouldn't cook for him anymore but just we weren't going to be doing what we had been. I thought he would be upset but he wasn't at all. He was really happy with my decision and fully supported me. He immediately bought me some Slim-Fast. LOL Then we went to the drugstore and got vitamins. I was convinced I probably had a vitamin D deficiency for lack of sunshine. So I began to take a good multi-vitamin, extra D, Niacin(B3) before each meal, and supplemental B12, which I tend to also be deficient in for whatever reason. I would like to mention that if you aren't familiar with Niacin (B3) and all the benefits one receives from it that you might research it on the internet. It's really an amazing vitamin. The other thing I decided to do was drink Bragg's Apple Cider vinegar each morning on arising. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to be healthy. If you want to know more just Google it. So the only thing left to do was to begin to get some form of exercise to go along with everything else.

I decided to go swimming. I could barely squeeze into my biggest one piece bathing suit and when I looked in the mirror all I could think of was that I looked like a samarai wrestler. It was a very humbling experience that first day at the pool. First off my body was sooooo white. I've always had a nice tan. But I looked like this great big white whale. My bathing suit felt like it was jabbing into my skin because it was really too small and there were some other people at the pool and it was really embarrassing for me to be seen looking this way.

I wasn't even sure I could still swim. But I was able to do a couple of laps and then some exercises in the shallow end. I decided I was going to go to TJ Max and invest in a bigger suit.

After we went swimming, Robert and I went to TJ Max and looked at suits. His suit was pretty old and a little tight on him too (don't tell him I told). The first place we went was to the men's section where he didn't like any of the suits they had because they all had the long legs and he was used to the shorter type. I pointed out a beautiful navy and aqua suit but he didn't like the long legs and so thirty minutes later we left with the one I had chosen to begin with. hehehe Then I found a couple of very matronly looking suits and tried them on and chose the lesser of the evils. The one I chose was guaranteed to make me look ten lbs thinner. It was a huge brightly colored floral print and took some real squeezing to get into. I decided that no matter how uncomfortable it was it was worth it because it somehow did make me look not so large. (note how I still can't use the word f*t?)

The next day when Robert and I prepared to go for another swim I tried it on and I felt like I was in a corset. It was going back to the store. I put on my old bathing suit instead and even though the suit was uncomfortable just one day made the swimming easier. I was amazed.

Five weeks have now passed and I have stayed on my diet. I haven't cheated one time even. And I've lost 15 lbs!!! YAYYYYYYY !!!! It's working. And I've begun a great (great for me) exercise routine.

I feel so much better. My body is responding in grateful ways and each day I feel better than the day before. I can tell a huge difference just in my attitude and my energy. I am happier. :)

I still have a ways to go but the days will pass no matter what I do so I'm going to keep on doing this because 'it's working'! I'm never hungry. Sometimes I have to force myself to have that extra can of Slim-Fast but I do it because I don't want to deprive my body of the essential things I know it needs that Slim-Fast has in it. When I have a regular meal it's always something basically normal, like fish, veggies and a small serving of potatoes or rice, or steak or chicken. Basically anything but pasta and bread and cereal. And never anything with sugar. I make no sugar jello and put bananas in it and keep that around for a healthy snack. It's great for you. (my nails are getting longer) and it's nice and refreshing. It was difficult to give up the Extreme Moose Tracks ice cream I love so much but it's worth it! Robert enjoys the jello too.

I'm not totally radical. I still have a cup of coffee each morning and a little glass of white zinfandel in the evenings.

My old bathing suit is fitting me better and I can notice a change (not a lot) in my shape. The main thing is that I can tell I feel so much better and I am looking forward to the next ten lbs.

Next post will be about my exercise routine. I'm very excited over sharing it with you!

I love you!!!

My first Blog - dedicated to Jack and Gianna

When I look back on my life and I think about all the experiences I have had and which ones are the most dear to me I think of my children and my grandchildren. All the memories that I hold dearest and closest to my heart are those that have you in them. And that is why I have decided to create this blog. This way, even when I'm not with you, I can share things I am doing and thinking and hopefully it will keep us more closely connected with everyone's busy schedule.

So here goes....

I woke up today wondering what kind of weekend you had and of course the first thing I did was log onto my computer to check my email and sure enough there was one from your Grandpa. It was only copied to me but I thought it was neat that he had responded to your "Beautiful Advice" email you had sent to me and him and several of your friends. It was very cool that he wrote how "beautiful you are on the inside and outside" and how much he "loved you". I thought that was really cool and it made me very happy to see such a warm and loving response from him. Even though we have been divorced for over 25 years I still regard him as a close friend and wonderful person. The fact that he has remarried a kind and compassionate woman who is very nice to me and who I really do like makes it so great at family get-togethers.

When I read his reply to your email I felt kind of bad that I hadn't responded better. It was only because I was replying to you and also a couple of your friends too (Lauren and Sydney) that I toned my normally mushy response down. :)

BTW I first received that beautiful email from Auntie Dana and had been meaning to pass it on but just hadn't gotten around to it yet. So I guess I kind of quickly sent it out trying to omit the email addys of people I didn't know. There were two Laurens so I guess I got her in one of them for sure. I wish Jack had an email address so I could write him too.

I didn't do much this past weekend. We (me and Robert) stayed at home and we went swimming for a little while Saturday and Sunday. Last night while we were in the pool there was a gentle little rain. It was kind of nice in a way. We were singing "Swimming in the Rain" and "Raindrops keep Falling on my Head". LOL It didn't last long and then it stopped. I wondered if you were out at your pool.

Last weekend hanging out with you was so much fun! It's amazing how much cooler the water temperature is where you live. And the view is so much better.

There are so many things to be excited about right now. For one, Tarryl just got an endorsement from the Minnesota Police and Peace Keepers Association. That's a really big thing and Robert is very excited over it. So am I. Saturday night we watched her speaking from Netroots Nation in Las Vegas. She was fabulous. We are really pulling for her to get elected!

Tonight we're going to watch an old Sandra Bullock movie. "Miss Congeniality II". It looks like it will be really cute and funny. I love Sandra Bullock.

Well, I guess that's enough for my first blog.

I love you!!!