Life Changes Every Second

Every day life changes in some manner, and my life has certainly changed since my last post several months ago. With each change comes deep deliberations as one accepts the alterations that one has little or no control over. In the past few months I have married off one of my sons, become a grandmother, lost my best friend, retired from my full-time teaching career, begun teaching for the University of Phoenix, had another filly (baby horse), sold two horses, and said good-bye to one of my sons as he, his wife and daughter move to the University of Virginia as part of his JAG training. And there has been more.

So much change in such a short time, I have been told. To cope with life changing moments, I have searched deep in my soul and made additional changes, as well. I started walking three to five miles each morning to increase the endorphins in my brain, which serve as natural spirit lifters. It also is a slick way to lose 12 pounds in three months. I didn't see that coming. I have also stopped eating junk, or at least as much junk as possible, which has contributed to the weight loss.

Life changing events create stress for all involved, and often stress creates hand wringing, sharp words, and additional life altering events. To all who have been involved or affected, know life continues to shift and change each day, and there are always surprises we didn't see coming. Together we will all survive and get through these times, regardless of the outcomes.

And so today I will again walk, I will again teach my online composition courses, I will again write an article about reading skills for publication, and I will again attempt to learn as much as I can about my new iPhone 3GS. Life changes every day, and I can certainly vouch for that. Accepting the changes is the tough part.

Cancer: Away With You!

My best friend has neuroendocrine tumors -- NETs -- another word for cancer. Val had surgery in late September, previously discussed here. For five days early last week Val had a fever ranging from 100.6 to 103.0, complete with chills, and shaking body ache, the whole thing that goes with a bug of some sort. Good news came today: her temperature was 98.4. Can you hear my big sigh of relief?

Recovering from surgery of any kind is tough, especially when one is active, always on the go, and thought to be in excellent health. Val was my Sonoma Diet buddy, and together we lost weight; now Val has lost 15 more pounds of weight she didn't need to lose. She is tall at 5 foot 8 inches, carries herself with distinguished grace, and has always looked tall and thin. Now she is tall and too thin, if one can ever be too thin. Time to bring in the refrigerated bottles of Ensure, each worth 350 calories of protein, calcium, and several nutrients and minerals. A strawberry Ensure for Weight Management was the flavor of choice, and after a little nudging, nothing remained but an empty bottle. She had consumed 550 calories for the day. With a little hope, a lot of herbs and seasoning, and a fair amount of nurturing, she might be able to reach 2000 calories by dinner.

Sonoma Diet To The Rescue - Again

Eighteen months ago, in April of 2006, I went on yet another diet in pursuit of a slimmer more svelte body. If I were to number each attempt at weight loss, this would be Diet 142, or 3, or, you get the picture. But this time I followed sage advice from my husband's homeland, Greece, and I used olive oil, Kalamato olives, tomatoes, whole wheat pita, fish and fresh vegetables. I bought the book, The Sonoma Diet, read it and followed it, and in a few short weeks had lost 2o pounds.

The Sonoma Diet is actually a lifestyle that allows one to eat, drink wine, and relax while losing unwanted fat from the prime fat location on any woman: the stomach. Based on the eating habits of those living in the Mediterranean area, the Sonoma diet asks one to divide their dinner plate into fourths, filling two fourths (or one half) 0f the plate with salad and veggies, one fourth of the plate with a whole wheat carb, and one fourth with a protein. The goal is to eat more veggies and fewer carbs while removing anything "white" from the diet: no white flour, no sugar of any sort, and during the first 10 days, no fruit.

Amazing things happen around the 12th day -- the scale indicates a loss of anywhere from five to ten pounds, and the weight stays off. I have been amazed at the difference in my eating habits since April of 2006; I have been happy with Greek Salads and know where to find the best ones in Chicagoland. I have Greek olives in my refrigerator at all times, and I am not hungry, except for air popped popcorn. My weight has been maintained, for the most part, but I am back on Sonoma big time again to lose five pounds that found their way back on with the hot summer ice cream splurge(s).

Today the scale was again my friend, as I have lost two pounds in about four days by following the Sonoma diet plan. My staple is a wonderful mixture of brown rice and wild rice that I make and then eat as my carb for breakfast and dinner. I fill in with other carbs, proteins and veggies. Here is the recipe:

1 1/2 cup of brown rice, 1 1/2 cup of wild rice, 1 large can (that holds 6 cups) of chicken broth, a large diced onion, and some parsley, dill, basil, salt and black pepper. I cook it for about 30 minutes and then let it rest to reabsorb the liquid.

This tastes great --- hot or cold, it is good to eat. Add some cooked chicken or fish and it is a complete meal, except you need to eat 1/2 a plate of veggies as well. So give it a try -- I have, and if it works for me, it will work for you as long as you don't cheat and eat anything white....unless it is popcorn from Trader Joe's.