Brunei for over 400 Page Views This Week. Thank you kindly for viewing my blog. I thought it would be interesting for us to learn more about this beautiful country. We will learn about you as you learn about us…..Until we read again………..Arline Miller, blog author of Sipping Cups of Inspiration.
The tiny state of Brunei has one of the world’s highest standards of living thanks to its bountiful oil and gas reserves.
Its ruling royals, led by the head of state Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, possess a huge private fortune and its largely ethnic-Malay population enjoy generous state handouts and pay no taxes.
A British protectorate since 1888, Brunei was the only Malay state in 1963 which chose to remain so rather than join the federation that became Malaysia. Full independence came relatively late in 1984.
Despite a significant non-Muslim minority presence in the country and strong condemnation from international rights group, in 2014 Brunei became the first East Asian country to adopt strict Islamic sharia law which allows punishment such as stoning for adultery and amputation for theft.
WHY EAT WITHCHOPSTICKS? I am referring to wooden chopsticks and not the piano piece named casually chopsticks. I don’t know how many readers have used chopsticks but the very first time I attempted them was definitely an adventure. This was years ago, and on a business trip, a nice Chinese restaurant was the place of choice by everyone. Being from a small town whose big attraction was The I Like It Restaurant, I showed my adventurous spirit by going along with the crowd. When others asked for chopsticks, well of course I had to have my pair. I have seen the ones that are “trainers” later in my life; no trainers were given and the adventure began. I learned a long time ago, if you are not sure of the proper way to do anything, slow down, hesitate, and watch and learn from others.
For all of you that have used chopsticks and have mastered the art of using them instead of the fork; I applaud you and I can say too, “I can use chopsticks and eat a meal with ease.” I don’t say it with bragging rights. I say it because it was a challenge and I overcame the uncomfortableness of holding it correctly. I have taught many people how to use the chopsticks and even those who use the trainers first usually master it to a certain degree. I think back and I vividly remember traveling and stopped at a nice looking Chinese restaurant. I ordered lunch and I proudly used my chopsticks. While I was eating, I looked over to a table where this elderly Chinese lady was sitting and I watched her eating rice impressively with her chopsticks and she was not doing the “shoveling technique” and I was intrigued with her method and realized I was no master at all. She looked up and smiled a little smile at me and for some reason and for a brief second she seemed to approve of my attempts to use chopsticks and to blend into her culture. I still ask for chopsticks when we go to eat Chinese cuisine and that little lady seems to send me a smile across the universe.
An interesting article on the history of chopsticks in Hungry History:
We’ve discussed the story of the knife and fork, but there’s another set of utensils used by billions of people around the world—and it has a truly ancient past. The Chinese have been wielding chopsticks since at least 1200 B.C., and by A.D. 500 the slender batons had swept the Asian continent from Vietnam to Japan. From their humble beginnings as cooking utensils to paper-wrapped bamboo sets at the sushi counter, there’s more to chopsticks than meets the eye.The fabled ruins of Yin, in Henan province, provided not only the earliest examples of Chinese writing but also the first known chopsticks—bronze sets found in tombs at the site. Capable of reaching deep into boiling pots of water or oil, early chopsticks were used mainly for cooking. It wasn’t until A.D. 400 that people began eating with the utensils. This happened when a population boom across China sapped resources and forced cooks to develop cost-saving habits. They began chopping food into smaller pieces that required less cooking fuel—and happened to be perfect for the tweezers-like grip of chopsticks.As food became bite-sized, knives became more or less obsolete. Their decline—and chopsticks’ ascent—also came courtesy of Confucius. As a vegetarian, he believed that sharp utensils at the dinner table would remind eaters of the slaughterhouse. He also thought that knives’ sharp points evoked violence and warfare, killing the happy, contended mood that should reign during meals. Thanks in part to his teachings, chopstick use quickly became widespread throughout Asia.Different cultures adopted different chopstick styles. Perhaps in a nod to Confucius, Chinese chopsticks featured a blunt rather than pointed end. In Japan, chopsticks were 8 inches long for men and 7 inches long for women. In 1878 the Japanese became the first to create the now-ubiquitous disposable set, typically made of bamboo or wood. Wealthy diners could eat with ivory, jade, coral, brass or agate versions, while the most privileged used silver sets. It was believed that the silver would corrode and turn black if it came into contact with poisoned food.Throughout history, chopsticks have enjoyed a symbiotic relationship with another staple of Asian cuisine: rice. Naturally, eating with chopsticks lends itself to some types of food more than others. At first glance, you’d think that rice wouldn’t make the cut, but in Asia most rice is of the short- or medium-grain variety. The starches in these rices create a cooked product that is gummy and clumpy, unlike the fluffy and distinct grains of Western long-grain rice. As chopsticks come together to lift steaming bundles of sticky rice, it’s a match made in heaven.
Now for the deeper thought…….In this life, we can choose an easy, familiar life and stay in a close environment. There are plenty of people who have never traveled outside their comfort zone. I also think some people live for adventure, excitement, and desire to go past the limits of the city. That being said, to become comfortable in our cuisine, it is helpful if we combine these two scenarios. First, we need to choose a healthy plan of eating, one we can live in it, thrive within the changes we have to make. Secondly, we have to be willing to “try the chopsticks” to share our nutritional testimony to others, step up to be charitable and giving by volunteering, speaking, writing, and sharing the changes our eating lifestyle have made for us. Familiar is good; going for the unfamiliar modes of always keeping healthy choices is a little disconcerting and we have to be willing to pick up the vessels of our eating and exercising like picking up the chopsticks and using them. Try the chopsticks of life next time and see if there is a little lady sitting at a table and smiling at your efforts to live a great life of healthy eating.
LAUGHING IS THE BEST WORKOUT FOR YOUR DIET. One of the best gifts from the universe I was given is the ability to laugh at myself and life itself. This has maintained my sense of positivity and I consider it a cherished gift. But what exactly does laughter accomplish? I thought it an interesting consideration to look into a few articles to see if I am getting a great workout with my laughter. I need all of the calorie, attitude boosting activity I can count. Look what I found! See I am learning how to expand my healthy eating, exercising routine. I plan on laughing myself silly!
Here is an article from Web MD:
Laughter Therapy: What Happens When We Laugh?
We change physiologically when we laugh. We stretch muscles throughout our face and body, our pulse and blood pressure go up, and we breathe faster, sending more oxygen to our tissues.
People who believe in the benefits of laughter say it can be like a mild workout — and may offer some of the same advantages as a workout.
“The effects of laughter and exercise are very similar,” says Wilson. “Combining laughter and movement, like waving your arms, is a great way to boost your heart rate.”
One pioneer in laughter research, William Fry, claimed it took ten minutes on a rowing machine for his heart rate to reach the level it would after just one minute of hearty laughter.
And laughter appears to burn calories, too. Maciej Buchowski, a researcher from Vanderbilt University, conducted a small study in which he measured the amount of calories expended in laughing. It turned out that 10-15 minutes of laughter burned 50 calories.
While the results are intriguing, don’t be too hasty in ditching that treadmill. One piece of chocolate has about 50 calories; at the rate of 50 calories per hour, losing one pound would require about 12 hours of concentrated laughter!
Even looking forward to having a good laugh can boost your immune system and reduce stress. University of California-Irvine study shows that even knowing you will be involved in a positive humorous event days in advance reduces levels of stress hormones in the blood and increases levels of chemicals known to aid relaxation.
Laughter appears to cause the tissue that forms the inner lining of blood vessels, the endothelium, to dilate or expand in order to increase blood flow.
Playful laughing fuels positive energy, creativity and connection.
Boosts immune functions.
Increase’s pain tolerance.
Exercises facial, abdominal and chest muscles.
Oxygenates the blood.
Improves brain functioning.
We are more alert, creative, we think better after a laugh.
How Does Your Sense of Humor Impact your heart? The University of Maryland laughter research
A sense of humor fuels positive energy, connection and creativity.
Use humor during challenging times to transform situations.
Use humor to arouse curiosity and engage in divergent or creative thinking.
“‘Humor in children has been correlated with higher intelligence, creativity, sociability, empathy, self-esteem, and problem solving. Louis Franzini, Ph.D. author of Kids Who Laugh: How to Develop Your Child’s Sense of Humor
“Humor is a powerful force that can nourish children’s growth, development, health, and sense of well-being.”
Amelia J. Klein, editor Humor in Children’s Lives: A Guidebook for Practitioners
My summation would be while you are walking, doing crunches, zumba-ing, or whatever suits your exercise fancy; LAUGH, LAUGH, AND LAUGH!
If we will combine a positive attitude toward eating, living, thinking, and enjoying life; laughter can be the best workout and the most fun. One of the best compliments I ever receive is when I post a picture, someone remarks about my smile. They recognize I love life; I love people; and I love to smile and laugh. Why not?
Find something to smile about, even if it is at your expense. The result is priceless!
(C) Copyright 2012-2016 Arline Miller, blogger with third party sources with links to original articles with rights reserved.
TODAY THE WORDS are BEFORE SUPPLEMENTS, WE HAD SSS TONIC. In order to be clear, we had Cod Liver Oil too. How many of you are almost gagging now? I remember those mornings being in line for what we called the “nasty stuff” and I can speak from experience; it was nasty. The funny part is children didn’t miss a lot of school and we could get out in the freezing cold or pounding rain and not only survived; we thrived. Of course, I think we ate healthier before the new brand of “healthy eating” came about. We had some sugary desserts but were not allowed to indulge and our parents practiced portion control by having to struggle to keep enough food on the table for us to have our portions. Back to the SSS Tonic and Cod Liver Oil; they worked. We hated them but they kept us running wild and going strong. What amazed me is they are still available and I will have to say I flinched slightly when I saw the box of the SSS Tonic. I posted two of the comments on their site along with some good information on anemia and vitamin B deficiency for your reading time.
I am not advocating using or not using either SSS Tonic and/or Cod Liver Oil as my body still shivers when I hear their names. I do take Fish Oil Supplements and vitamins but I try to get as much natural nutrients from my food. It boils down to eliminating toxins and poisons and entering as much nutrients and supplements into our body for better health.
Here are the comments on the SSS Tonic website:
Comment:
My dad has been taking this stuff since I was a kid (now 37yrs old). He swore by it so now I’ve been taking it. I’ll be honest and say it tastes like CRAP but I truly feel this is by far the best vitamin I’ve taken. I feel the difference and I feel a lot more energy. Since the taste is so bad, I recommend either having a “chaser” when you drink it or mixing it with juice. I have a strong stomach and taste buds so I shoot this like a champ!
Comment:
My mother gave this to us when we were growing up. I have not taken it since I left home until a few months ago. I was so tired all the time had no energy so I started taken it and in few days I was feeling good and energy was up. This has worked great for me…
SSS Tonic – Liquid High Potency Iron and B Vitamins
SSS Tonic gives you more than the minimum daily requirements of iron and certain important B-complex vitamins considered essential to good health.
Anemia
Anemia is a condition that occurs when there is insufficient hemoglobin in red blood cells to carry oxygen to cells and tissues. Common signs and symptoms of anemia include fatigue and weakness.
Anemia can result from a variety of medical problems, including heavy menstrual bleeding, and deficiencies of iron, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B6, and folic acid. Other causes can be from a low dietary intake of iron and poor absorption.
Your doctor can tell if you have anemia by a blood test called a CBC (complete blood count). Your doctor can also do a physical exam and talk to you about your diet, the medicines you are taking, and your family health history.
About Iron
Iron, one of the most abundant metals on earth, is essential to most life forms and to normal human physiology. This metal is an essential component of proteins involved in oxygen transport, among many other things.
Almost two-thirds of iron in the body is found in hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to tissues. Iron is also found in proteins that store iron for future needs and that transport iron in blood. Iron stores are regulated by intestinal iron absorption.
Iron is:
An essential mineral
A carrier of oxygen in the body
Necessary to make hemoglobin
Found in every cell of the body
Iron Deficiency
Iron deficiency, as the name implies, is a condition resulting from too little iron in the body. Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency and the leading cause of anemia in the United States.1
According to the Mayo Clinic, one in five women and half of all pregnant women are iron deficient. Lack of iron in your diet is one cause of iron deficiency anemia, but there are other causes as well. You can usually correct iron deficiency anemia with iron supplementation.2
Beginning signs of iron deficiency:
Loss of appetite
Constipation
Headaches
Irritability
Difficulty concentrating
Established Signs of iron deficiency:
Weakness
Fatigue
Coldness of extremities
Depression
Dizziness
Overall pallor
Pale, brittle nails
Pale lips/eyelids
Mouth soreness
Cessation of menstruation
Loss of libido
Anemia and B Vitamins
Many people with anemia also take a B-vitamin supplement along with their iron supplement. The B vitamins in Sublingual B-Total can help build iron stores in those whose blood is iron poor and/or deficient in Vitamins B12, B6, and folic acid. A deficiency in these nutrients can lead to anemic conditions.
Megaloblastic anemia – Vitamin B12 deficiency is a cause of megaloblastic anemia. In this type of anemia, red blood cells are larger than normal and the ratio of nucleus size to cell cytoplasm is increased. There are other potential causes of megaloblastic anemia, including folate deficiency.
Pernicious anemia – is a form of megaloblastic anemia that occurs when there is an absence of intrinsic factor, a substance normally present in the stomach. Vitamin B12 binds with intrinsic factor before it is absorbed and used by the body. An absence of intrinsic factor prevents normal absorption of B12 and may result in pernicious anemia.
Your body needs Vitamin B6 to make hemoglobin, which carries oxygen to the tissues. Vitamin B6 also helps increase the amount of oxygen carried by hemoglobin. A Vitamin B6 deficiency can result in a form of anemia that is similar to iron deficiency anemia.
Folic acid deficiency anemia happens when your body does not get enough folic acid. Folic acid is one of the B vitamins, and it helps your body make new cells, including new red blood cells. Most people get enough folic acid in the food they eat. But some people either don’t get enough in their diet or have trouble absorbing it from the foods they eat.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Iron deficiency – United States, 1999–2000. MMWR 2002;51:897–899.
Cod liver oil is a nutritional supplement derived from liver of cod fish. As with most fish oils, it has high levels of the omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. Wikipedia
Note from Arline Miller: We are in a time when too many preservatives and chemicals are used in processing of our food and if we are in a position to buy organic and non GMO food, by all means we should. When we have our physicals, find out if you can have periodic blood profiles completed by lab work. I found out I had very low Vitamin D and through some addition of Vitamin D, I felt less tired and more focused mentally. Good Health to All.
TODAY THE WORDS are EAT WITH YOUR MIND AND NOT YOUR HEART. This message may be meant more for me than anyone else. For those of you who have followed my blog have realized some of my powerful memories have been formed from a certain way my Mother or someone else dear to my heart made a dish. I have relished in the love one expends when they make a special meal. I have incorporated this thinking in my own life. I want to spoil others by cooking or making some recipe they have expressed this was one of their favorites. This kind of thinking, even though it is meant with love is somewhat destructive to healthy eating.
I believe we need an occasional “fix” of food and this is when I should feed with the heart and not the mind. If we eat 90% with our minds and 10% with our hearts, we would experience better health. Of course, all of the health gurus will contradict this with a statement for the need of 100% healthy eating. I will say in return, That is impossible for all of us who struggle with eating healthy. We want to “eat with the heart” once in a while. If we don’t recognize this internal struggle with the memories of attachment eating, and allow a cheat meal or reward once in a while; we will never become serious about maintaining the 90% of healthy eating.
I googled, “Is it okay to occasionally splurge?” This is one of the responses (link is included by clicking on Margaret Floyd’s name) I found and once you read it, there is a profound thought we should come away from her message and I will discuss it at the end.
Now here’s the only rule I will ever strictly enforce with myself and with others. If you are going to have that treat, if you’re going to indulge in some guilty pleasure, then the absolute most important thing is that you truly, fully enjoy it. Eating something you think you shouldn’t and beating yourself up about it the whole time — something that I see people do every single day — is far, far more damaging to your body than eating that very same food and delighting in it.
How you feel when you eat your dinner has about as much impact on how your body uses that food as what it is you’re eating. Stress compromises digestion, and guilt is most definitely stress inducing.
I was once asked at a workshop about what on earth I order from a restaurant menu. My response: “Whatever I want, and I enjoy it.” And that’s exactly what I do. I check in with myself and see what I feel like eating. I don’t overthink it, and I don’t analyze the nutritional pros and cons of the various options. I just eat what I feel like eating. And, most importantly, I enjoy every little mouthful of it.
So, when I do eat the mac and cheese, or I pick something off a menu that’s clearly not healthy, I eat it with delight, not guilt. And I encourage you to do the same.
Thanks Margaret and now for my personal thought: I agree with Ms. Floyd 100%. Her words of “Eating something you think you shouldn’t and beating yourself up about it the whole time–something that I see people do every single day–is far, far more damaging to your body than eating that very same food and delighting in it.“
If you are doing what most of us do and splurging or cheating (whatever you call it), do it as a reward and enjoy the fool out of it while treating it as a treat and not a mainstay. When we begin to think, reward instead of regular eating; we begin to eat with the mind most of the time and occasionally eat with the heart. This is how I see more ability to stay healthy and nourished both in the mind and the heart.
Happy Healthy Eating! Until we eat and read again…….Arline Miller
(C) Copyright 2012-2016 Arline Miller, Sipping Cups of Inspiration. All rights and permissions reserved with Third Party Resourced and Accredited.
TODAY THE WORDS are SHOULD WE TOSS THE SCALES? It has been tempting so many times to toss those evil, dreaded, lying scales out the door. Have you had this feeling? Sure you have unless you are one of those people who never seem to worry about weight and stay about the same, year after year.
Cornell researchers: Actually, you should weigh yourself every day
Maybe it’s time to forget that advice from your doctor or nutritionist about how stepping on the scale every day could be counterproductive to your weight loss goals.
A two-year study by Cornell University researchers found that people who weighed themselves frequently and tracked the results on a chart lost weight and kept it off. The results were more apparent for men than women.
The logging “forces you to be aware of the connection between your eating and your weight,” David Levitsky, the paper’s senior author and a professor of nutrition and psychology at Cornell, said in a statement explaining the conclusions of the study. “It used to be taught that you shouldn’t weigh yourself daily, and this is just the reverse.”
For the complete interesting article follow the link to The Washington Post.
Over the years, I’ve dealt with my fair share of weigh-a-holics. That is, people who step on the scales far too often. Some do it every day of their lives. Morning and night. Some step on and off five times in ten seconds in the hope that a lower figure might magically appear between their feet. Then they do it again thirty seconds later. Sound familiar?
No, not crazy at all.
Some people give away their personal power to the ‘almighty scales’. Sadly, their morning weigh-in will either make or break their day. And their mental and emotional states. Some people think that if they step lightly onto the scales the figure might be lower. And some think that leaving part of their foot off the plate will yield a better result.
Good grief.
So, with all that in mind, when should you avoid the scales?
Do You Make These 10 Common Mistakes Before Weighing Yourself?
LIFESTYLEBY CRAIG HARPER
1. Most Days. In most instances, weighing yourself every day is unnecessary and unhealthy. And often leads to obsessive thinking and behaviour. Weekly weigh-ins are adequate for most people in most situations.
2. When you’re at someone else’s place. It’s best to weigh yourself on the same scales each time. That way – even if the scales are not perfectly calibrated – you will get a more accurate indication of what’s actually happening with your weight.
3. When the scales cost ten bucks. As a rule, the cheaper the scales, the less accurate they are. It’s my experience that most domestic bathroom scales are inaccurate – usually on the light side. For the last twenty years, I’ve listened to people complaining about how ‘heavy’ the scales are at my gym. Sadly for those clients, the scales are very accurate.
4. When it’s 8pm and you’ve eaten a cow for dinner. Under normal conditions, we’re all heavier at the end of the day. Not fatter, heavier. Natural variability means that somebody like me can easily weigh 3-4 kilos (6.6-8.8lbs) more at night time. Which is why it’s best for us to step on the scales at the same time of day each time. Preferably, first thing in the morning.
5. When you’re wearing hiking boots. Clothes can weigh as much as 4 kilos (8.8 pounds), so weighing yourself in the buff is the preferred option for accuracy. If that’s not possible, wear as little clothing as possible and wear the same clothing each time.
6. After you’ve just completed a strenuous workout – unless you’re measuring pre and post-workout hydration levels. It’s easy to shed more than a kilo (2.2lbs) of water weight during a one-hour sweat session, so don’t delude yourself with a temporarily low reading on the scales. Water ain’t fat. By the way, one litre of H2O (or sweat) = one kilo. Exactly.
7. When the scales are sitting on carpet. Make sure the scales are on a solid surface (tiles, timber, concrete), otherwise your reading could be inaccurate.
8. Certain days of the month (you can skip this one boys). I know you girls don’t need me to spell it out for you but, yes, for menstruating women there will typically be somewhere between two and seven days per month when your weight is temporarily inflated due to increased water retention. Probably best to avoid the scales during this time.
9. When the thought of weighing yourself puts you in a state of anxiety. Stepping on the scales means whatever you decide it means. If you think and believe it will be a stressful experience, it will be. Weighing yourself can be a simple data-gathering exercise or it can be a traumatic event. If you can’t master your fear of the scales then you might want to use another evaluation tool for a while. Weekly girth measurements, monthly body-composition testing and monthly fitness testing are all reasonable alternatives.
10. When you’re happy with how you look, feel and function. If you look good, feel good and are in good health, who cares about a stupid number?
My take on when to weigh is whenever you feel like it and whatever works for you. People are different and react to weight loss and/or gain. I see the scales, not as my friend, but as my monitor just like I take my glucose reading each morning. I have the highs and the lows on both of my “guides to better health”. I don’t panic; I adjust! This is what I recommend to everyone; take the scales and other monitoring equipment as a gauge to see how you are doing, but realize the above factors can affect the outcome. If weighing once a week is best for you; weigh once a week. If you are a curious soul like me; you are going to step on those scales in the morning. What is the actual truth of weighing is to weigh on a regular basis and if that is once a week or once a day, it does give you a reason to celebrate or eliminate! Healthy eating and happy weighing.
Until we eat and read again……Arline Miller, author and blogger.
(C) 2012-2015 Arline Miller with source references for 3rd party articles and all rights and permissions reserved.
TODAY THE WORDS are DON’T CLEAN UP; CLEAN OUT THE PANTRY. As I start the New Year off with more focus on how we can live and eat in a really tempting world. How many commercials have food which can never look as good as they do while they want you to use their products? How many times have we gotten up from watching a commercial and gone into the pantry or refrigerator looking for the food you saw on the commercial? How many times if you didn’t find that product, you chose something else and ate due to the temptation? Now, all of us have done this so let’s be honest. If you haven’t; Kudos to you.
What we as consumers should realize, this is BIG business for advertisers and manufacturers and we get the blow on both arenas. We support the advertisers by buying all of the products advertised and we support the weight loss product industry by gaining weight from the very products we bought. Look at the following information with the link attached about advertising:
Total media ad spending in the US this year will see its largest increase in a decade, according to new figures from eMarketer. On the strength of gains in mobile and TV advertising, total ad investments will jump 5.3% to reach $180.12 billion, achieving 5% growth for the first time since 2004, when ad spending increased 6.7%.
Healthy Eating Tip:Before you can lose unhealthy eating habits you have to lose the unhealthy foods out of your pantry and refrigerator. If it is there and when those cravings come; it is harder to resist. If they are hard to find or you have to go buy them; you have a better chance of talking yourself out of them. We haven’t completed our over haul yet but we are making a dent in them. It is not easy and we are human but the effort is worth it. (I posted this on FB last year and did a good cleaning of the pantry, but it’s back).
One of the realistic, humanistic facts we know is normally we, at some point and time, will backslide and return to old unhealthy habits. I try to remember I fall victim to my emotions or situations and food has been a source of comfort. I have a sign up “I eat to live; not live to eat.” I have to read this and reassure myself I mean it.
I want to leave all of us with a thought: Eating to live means healthy eating and exercise. Living to eat is to fall victim to the unhealthy culprits hiding in our refrigerators and/or pantries waiting to devour our good intentions when we devour all of those empty calories and add chemical toxins into our bodies who ache to be healthy. Our bodies want to be fit; lean; and healthy. It is the commercial temptations which we have to fight like pro boxers. Prepare for the fight for your life! Clean out the frig and the pantry. If it is not there; you CAN’T eat it. It is that simple. On my list for this weekend: Clean out pantry and take a picture of how good it looks with healthy choices. Keep the picture on your refrigerator to remind you not to buy the wrong foods.
“Beware of the temptation by removing yourself from watching so much television or watch more movies without the commercials. Use the time for learning how to maintain your health. I am making it my mission to research on a regular basis and my health is improving. Trust me, this isn’t easy for this Southern Gal who was taught “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” Until we read and eat again…..Arline Miller, Author
My Mahi Mahi with Tomato Mango Salsa on HEALTHY BITES
Quick Lunch Idea on HEALTHY BITES
TODAY THE WORDS are WHY DEPRIVE; CUT PORTIONS AND THRIVE. I have been doing a lot of re-thinking my eating program. I hate to use the word program as it depicts some sort of the forbidden word “diet” but it is important we think not worry. Today I would like to share some of my thoughts about WHY DEPRIVE; CUT PORTIONS AND THRIVE. In order to do this, I want to shake up some of the ideas we have been supplied over the past few decades. From all of the great “resolves” most of us have ended up with more weight on our bodies from all of the deprivation.
Yesterday when I covered my decision to use the Tablespoon of the No-No foods during the holidays and shared it with some other friends; I realized from the follow up discussions with the ones who exercised this technique (by the way, nothing to buy or special products) they didn’t gain during the holidays and now are excited about becoming very serious to get in control of their health. In other words; they didn’t feel deprived. Neither did I. I am not advocating eating the No-Nos every day but when we can feel we had the pleasure of tasting some of the No-Nos but not overindulging; it is a good day.
Let’s take a walk down memory lane and remember how school lunches USED to be created. They were selections from the food groups. We had protein, starch or good carbs as veggies, fruit, bread, and even dessert. Think about how few kids were overweight; yes that is right. It was very unusual for a child to be chubby. We were active and not sitting idle. Hmmm??? Maybe that is a different topic for another day. Here is the focus of what I am thinking…..Portions! We were given a certain amount of each food group and not allowed 4 portions of starches or bread or even dessert. It was proportionately divided to insure we ate from all of the food groups. May I ask a question? Why did we change the way we used to eat when life was grand and all of the fish were jumping?
Commercialism is the culprit. Along came the microwave and the fast food (which I believe is the fast track to our demise). We grabbed on that destructive train with a vengeance and became lazy. This didn’t help us in the activity area either. I can remember going to the garden and picking the foods for our dinner or at least preparing for the freezer for later. Here is my thought on what has caused more obesity than having a cookie once in a while, a piece of bread with butter on it occasionally, or even a serving of lasagne or spaghetti……it is the ability to grab any quantity of fried chicken, pizza, burgers and fries super sized, or buffets where the philosophy is to eat as much as your body can hold because you are paying one price for whatever. You may not agree with my thinking but at least think about what you are eating and remember portions. You can or cannot count calories (that kind of stuff messes with my ADD) but a portion is the way to go in my mind. One piece of meat, one or two vegetables, one moderate size carb, one toasted or dark bread, and occasionally something sweet but try to stay away from gooey or a portion of fruit will go a long way in your system working right. At least consider changing from the idea of I can’t have to How much of any of the food group should I have.
May you find your way on the eating trail of life. I am not a health expert but I have found that the so called diets do not work for me and I don’t want to deprive; I want to cut portions and thrive.
HEALTHY BITES has been created to offer healthy recipes and you can click on this page for them. Also if you follow me on Pinterest, or even if you don’t, you can find great healthy recipes on many boards. Until we read or eat again…….Arline Miller, author and fellow eater!
(C) Copyright 2012-2016 Arline Miller with rights and permissions reserved.
TODAY THE WORDS are I WANT A DIET WHICH IS NO DIET. In this, my second post about eating, I will gladly put it out there. I want moderation but not elimination. There has been diet after diet which preach elimination. Let’s look at some of them and see what they want me to live without and then I want to share what is working better for me. I am not a health expert and do not profess to be anything but an average person who loves different kinds of food. The food groups contain something in each one I like to eat. You might feel the same.
One thing to keep in mind: As quoted in Bitesized Challenge, Programs claiming weight loss of more than 2 lbs per week are simply unhealthy crash diets. Weight is gained back 99% of the time.
But yet, we go from one miracle diet to another. I am a witness and I can preach on this subject as I claim experience in most of them at one time or another.
This Medical News Today information article Written by Christian Nordqvist, Knowledge center
Last updated: Thursday 1 October 2015 details on the most popular diets according to three criteria: how many articles there are around about these diets/lifestyles, how popular they seem to be generally, and how often we receive feedback on them.
How many of these popular diets have you tried? I personally can say 5 and I am still overweight. If you do some diligent studying, you will find a common thread between most of them and it is deprivation of some foods. I asked yesterday, “Are you really NEVER going to eat a donut for the rest of your life?”
Here is my tip for today and it may not work for everybody (especially for people with diseases or health conditions which mandate restriction) and here is the absolute truth….NO PLAN works for everybody. We have to begin to take charge of our individual bodies and not fall for the miracle plans but pay attention to what foods cause us to bloat or to gain weight. Some people can eat more carbs, some can eat more healthy fats, and yes, I have a sister who can eat sweets all of the time and she has never had as much problem maintaining a good weight but she has health issues.
Here goes what I have found works better for me:
I do not deprive myself of any food group but I limit the quantity of any of the carbs, sugars, and yes, fats. I make the larger portion of protein, but keep my meats palm size (we have heard this before, right). What I can’t do; but if I do it, I pay for it is allowing my portions to become large. Supersize means we get supersize! This makes sense doesn’t it? If you are going to eat a burger, make it fresh and small size with moderate portions of condiments. Just cutting portions and eating healthier, fresh cooked with more organic and non processed foods will start you on the track to eating for health.
I made this true comment yesterday, “When I started to eat for my health and not to lose a pants size; I accomplished both.”
With the holidays behind us, I am happy to report I didn’t gain a pound and kept my glucose in normal ranges for me. I used my 1 heaping Tablespoon of the NO-NOs theory. I used to feel I couldn’t even taste any dressing, any sweet potato crunch, any mac-n-cheese, etc. Now, I choose three of the NO-NOs and take 1 full Tablespoon, yes heaping, of each. The rest of my meal is devoted to palm sized protein, and a bigger portion of good carbs of veggies. Since I had dressing, I found it easy to leave off the bread. I had dessert but used the heaping T. of my delicious banana pudding (a good tip on this is to find a very small bowl and place the dessert in it (it will look like more LOL). I took very small bites to cherish each morsel and when I got up from the table, I had not eaten nearly as much as prior years and felt wonderful. I didn’t feel DEPRIVED and this is the key to maintaining eating correctly for longer periods. Maybe I am wrong, but feeling deprived is the biggest sabotage tool in the world.
Until we eat again and read again…….Arline Miller
HEALTHY BITES was created with healthy recipes I have found and some I created to help in eating for our health. Good things will come to those who keep the mindset; I am worth it! Please click on the name of HEALTHY BITES above and see the good way to eat.
(C) Copyright Arline Miller 2012-2015 All rights and permissions for content. Referenced material properly sourced.
GIVING UP, GIVING IN, AND GIVING TO FOOD. We are in a new year with new goals and new intentions. Let’s make resolutions and promises but let’s get real…..Are you really going to Never Eat a Donut the rest of your life? On this blog, I want to recognize our human side of our thinking on the subject of eating. The answer to my question is probably not, even though on this first few days of the New Year; you may have answered Yes! Let us look at a few reasons why this normally doesn’t work.
One of the reasons we eat is Emotional or Comfort Eating and I am referencing to an article on WebMD on this subject. (Link is included for entire article)
Does stress, anger, or sadness drive you to eat? Do you turn to food for comfort, or when you’re bored? Many people do. If you often eat for emotional reasons instead of because you’re physically hungry, that can be a problem.
Obeying the urge to eat more than you need is a sure-fire way to gain weight. It’s an even bigger problem if you already have health conditions like diabetes, obesity, or high blood pressure.
You can get back in control of your emotional eating. The surprising part is, it’s not really about food at all.
You might not even realize you’re doing it. One of the biggest clues: “Eating until you are uncomfortable and stuffed is a sure sign something is going on,” psychologist Leslie Becker-Phelps, PhD, says.
Another clue: You’re gaining weight and you don’t know why. Don’t assume that it’s just that you’re getting older or slacking on the treadmill. Consider how you’re doing emotionally, and whether that might be affecting your eating.
Another reason for eating is Habitual or I Can’t Stop Eating.
Even though this is a form of emotional eating, it should have its own category. We form habits as eating a certain food during a specific time during the day. Some people want something sweet at night or at least a bowl of cereal, a few cookies and milk, a sandwich, chips, etc. Think about it; is there a certain time of the day only a certain food will satisfy you? If you find yourself eating at this certain time, my tip for today is change what you do at that particular time. Even a big glass of lemon water or a cup of hot tea, or hummus on a celery stick, can alter what can happen. Taking a shower or a little activity can break this chain of habitual eating. If eating at 10 pm is the witching hour, try to schedule other activity instead of sneaking into the kitchen. If cereal or cookies are the demonic foods (which I say can tempt anyone) get them out of the house. You might be surprised how the urge will leave you if they are not handy. Keep other healthy items easily accessible. You most likely will not eat them at this time, but you are breaking a habit. Another tip is remember it takes up to 30 days to break a habit.
Ask yourself this question: Can I make it 30 days without my usual habit food? At least give it a shot. Even if you make it two weeks, pat yourself on the back. If you give in; start the countdown again.
HEALTHY BITES has been created to include a good variety of healthy foods to eat and I suggest you check it out for recipe ideas. If you follow me on Pinterest, one of my boards Healthy Bites, is also directed to some of the recipes I have found not only healthy but tasty. There are so many great sources to eat healthy and know how to develop good habits and a healthy life.
