Have you ever:

1.     Have had something you knew you should and could do, but just hadn’t been able to make progress and go forward with it, then

2.     Finally you got really tired of being in that spot, and made a definite decision to go forward, made a plan, and asked (God) for help with direction, then

3.     Things started happening, just almost falling into place to help you?  Maybe not even in the direction you thought?

Well, that’s where I am.

I’ve been slow in going forward in helping people get healthier—stuck on figuring out how to do it best.  I’ve been slow to get myself back to eating more fresh, real food.

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Food and Water:

Last week (recognizing that most people that eat a specific healthy way, can get by for a while if they sway off of their healthy eating), I mentioned that when I got Covid (but anything can help you go astray), I changed from my healthy eating just a tad…which turned into more than a tad over several months.

Last week I gave reasons it is not good to go back to the Standard American Diet—specifics of what was happening in your body while you’re “getting by”. 

I mentioned I was making a decision to get back on track with my health.

I don’t think I mentioned exactly how I was choosing to eat, but I chose to eat the way of the Keto (healthy Keto) Diet.  I’m eating very few carbs.  I’m eating plenty of fat—healthy fat, in healthy, real and quality (no processed) food.  And I’m eating ample protein.

Then one day a week my plan is to eat very good quality carbohydrates.  This past week, Sunday was my day I had planned to eat carbohydrates, and I ate rice. By the way, there were more carbohydrates in one (large) serving of rice than the food total for whole rest of my day!  But I plan to continue to eat this way until I feel I’m back to my normal.

This changes your body from burning carbohydrates for fuel, to burning fat for fuel.  This is a real change for your body, and at first your body isn’t necessarily happy about it.

I had a headache for couple of days, didn’t sleep well for 2-3 nights.  I didn’t necessarily get grouchy, but I know it can cause that too because the first time I did this, I was off-kilter for a few days, and I don’t think I was very easy to be around then.

Do I have trouble staying with it?  No.  Most of the time, No.  It’s good food.  And it tastes good.

My husband eats toast in the morning (I don’t); it doesn’t bother me (and I love toast).  Because I feel full, and satisfied.

Do I miss my cereal?  Yes, I do.  On these cold winter days, I love my oatmeal with all the things I add to it.  But I know I can have some on Sunday if I really want it.  And I probably won’t.

Do I miss my potatoes?  Yes, somewhat, but not overly.

Do I miss my pasta?  That, I miss.  But my daughters have told me about some garbanzo bean pasta that’s just as good.  I’ll be looking for that.  I love spaghetti, and shrimp with pasta. Yum!

I’ve been trying to drink hot (green) tea, but it just doesn’t set good with my body, so I’m not going to do that.  But I have been drinking filtered water with apple cider vinegar (unprocessed) and with a drop or two of lemon.  It’s very refreshing, and when I add a few drops of honey, it tastes awesome.

My goal is to drink half my weight in water each day.  I haven’t met that goal yet, but I’m keeping track each day, and I will make it soon.  Our bodies work so much better when they are well hydrated!

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For breakfast, I’ve been having two eggs and two slices of bacon.  Some days I add spinach and onions to the eggs (and I scramble that into the eggs), which I absolutely LOVE.  I’m going to find some recipes tho that will give me more variety.

For lunch I’ve had grilled chicken and salad; hamburger soup with vegetables; ham with beans and salad; raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, avocados.  I’m thinking to make some whipped cream with monk fruit sweetener, and add some berries to that.  But staying away from the sweet for a while yet.

We raise our own beef, and for dinner, we’ve had steak and salad, hamburger and mixed sautéed vegetables, canned tuna with apple, celery, mayo, etc.  I would’ve added some grapes if I had any.

So far I haven’t been hungry enough to “cheat”.  I think that’s from the quality fat.

I also am “Intermittent Fasting”, eating during an 8-hour period, then fasting for 16 hours.  I’m doing that most days.  Some days, if I want to eat breakfast with my husband, I cut it to 14 hours.  And I’m ok with that.

And my body seems to be ok with it too.

I truly am not feeling starved or deprived before the next time to eat.  And I’m eating things I don’t usually eat, and my body seems to love the change.

I saute with good quality oil—usually coconut oil or avocado oil.  Ghee is good, and actually so is (grass-fed) butter.

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Exercise:

I’m also dedicated to exercise.  I know fully that in order to keep myself young as I can, exercise is one of the most important things.  So I’m doing it.  Walking every day I can—it will be a challenge these next few days as the temperature tumbles, and I will probably use a video on YouTube to dance or walk inside.

Usually when I walk at home, I walk from our house to the county road, and back, which is 1.3 miles.  I usually walk it leisurely as I take pictures of the birds, or cattle, or just whatever I come across.  It’s very therapeutic to me.  Actual hiking in the mountains would be fairly new to me.

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So here’s where things started to happen “for” me.  I’m a member of the Mena, Arkansas Facebook page.  I noticed on there that someone asked if anyone knew of a hiking group for 60-year olds and older.  There were lots and lots of comments of people wanting to do it.

But she didn’t know the trails.  So one of our local men posted that he knew the trails, and he would guide them.  He said, whoever is interested, to let him know.  I simply put that I was interested, which I very much was, since I had been searching for someone to walk with me! 

I had not been able to find anyone—except much younger people on more strenuous hikes, where I doubted I could keep up. 

So they came up with a day to start—New Years’ Day.  I couldn’t go that day, but assured them I was interested.  So, next hike day was Wednesday.  I was there. 

The lady who asked the original question on Facebook, Sandra Emerson, was there, our trail guide was there.  I was there.  The three of us had a great mile and a half hike.  I loved it.

We went again Saturday.  Had another great hike, this time 2 miles.  I loved it!  We decided we needed a Facebook page so people could keep up with when we were walking, and for a solid place to communicate.

So I volunteered to make the Facebook group page. So I did.  I shared the page on the Mena, Arkansas page where so many people were interested, and on my own personal page. The Walking Sticks

So now, amazingly to me, the page in two days has 167 members.  And it looks like I’m the one that’s head of the group.  I’m not.  I have hiked very little.  But here I am.

When Dale’s not there, Sandra takes charge and we decide what trail to take, and she guides us through.  And I have people to hike with!!

And I’m getting my ducks in a row, and learning the in’s and out’s of being a good hiker! lol (And enjoying every bit of it!)

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Changes I’ve made:

1.     I’ve changed my eating, and my body and my mind love it.

2.     I’ve changed my way of movement, and even though my legs were a little sore at first, I know my body loves that too, and I love being out in the mountains!

3.     I’ve been drinking more water—not enough, but more; and I will improve.

So, what results have I seen for these changes?

The results in one week have been: 

1.     I think better.  I can actually, really tell the difference.

2.     I feel better.  I have more energy.  I wake up ready for the day.

3.     I sleep better.

4.     I wake up planning how we will eat for the day, and making preparations ahead.

5.     I’ve lost 6 pounds.  I’m sure that won’t continue losing pounds at that quick rate, but that’s ok too.  I know I won’t be gaining.

Last week I committed to making these changes permanent in my life.

This week I can say I’m solid in that commitment.

My Plans:

I do not intend to continue the Keto lifestyle forever, but as soon as I decide my body is in a good, healthy state again, I will phase into a sort-of Mediterranean diet.

I will continue my exercise/movement/hiking and plan to increase the frequency and increase my stamina.

I will also continue to increase my water intake, because I know it is so important to flush toxins out of my body, and continue to hydrate myself so my body can function properly.

I’m doing these things, because I know how my body reacts to these changes.  When I drifted away from them several months ago, my body knew.  It didn’t tell me for awhile, but I finally got the message.  I needed to go back 100% to what I knew was good.

We must have a connection with our bodies, listening for it to tell us what feels good to it (and what doesn’t).

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Recommendations:

Please understand I am not recommending the Keto diet, nor the Mediterranean diet, or any specific diet.  Nor am I recommending Intermittent Fasting.  Everyone is different, and everyone is in a different stage in their lives, with their own needs.

I am, however, recommending eating good, clean, real food—not the Standard American Diet. 

And I am recommending you move your body as much as you possibly can, and drink water, water, water.  These things are sooo needed by our bodies.  And with those changes, you are apt to be able to sleep much better as a side effect.

So is it time for YOU to get off-center, and Move Forward with your Health?  So you can feel good? Have energy? Sleep better? Lose some fat that helps your body to be toxic?  If so, let me help you.

If you’re wondering what you need to eat, for yourself, I can help you figure it out.

If you are wanting any help at all, with changes you might need to make in your lifestyle or your eating, I can help you.  I’ve been trained in ways to help you figure out what your body wants, and what you need.  (I don’t “tell you” what to do—I help you figure out what you need.  And help you figure out the path you want to take to make changes.)

Let me help you. 

Thank you for reading.

To your Health and Energy.

Sharon

P.S.

My in-person, one-on-one coaching sessions are $50 per session in January if you sign up for four sessions (really, one session just can’t help you).  This can be on line, in person, or by phone.