Ten pounds down and counting!

I am turning 52 years old in six days! After struggling with my weight for all these years, I may have finally put two and two together and come up with four!

I've lived most of my life dealing with yoyo weight and dieting. I may finally realize that stress is a MAJOR factor for me! The more I stress, the heavier I become. My mom once said that I am backward! I am thin when I'm happy and fat when I am unhappy! She was right all those years ago! It has taken me many more years to understand what that means! I do my best to let things go, be in the now, and go with the flow. My weight and health show it every single time! I will drop several pounds without even trying when I am under less stress.

Another huge factor in my weight is the age-old "you are what you eat"! I've tried to stick with a plant-based diet, but too often slid into the quick and easy stuff that is horrible for my mind, body, and soul! I believe "sugar equals crack," and I mean it! Try this, don't eat added sugar for a couple of days. You will have sugar cravings and maybe even headaches! People may even experience fatigue or a feeling of sadness or depression! After the cravings are gone, eat something super sugary and see what happens! The addiction is strong with this one! Watch That Sugar Film for more information!

In recent years I have come to despise eating meat of any sort. I no longer enjoy seafood, chicken, or a medium steak grilled to perfection! They don't taste the same after watching Cowspiracy! If that wasn't enough to ruin the taste, Forks Over Knives was! What meat producers do to the animals and what the animals we consume do to our bodies makes me shudder! When I don't eat meat, I have less inflammation, more energy, and less brain fog! Research shows that people who don't eat meat have less chance of heart attack and diabetes and may lower their blood pressure.

Did you know giving up dairy can cause you to have withdrawal symptoms? 65% of the world's population has difficulty digesting milk. Cows create milk to feed their young, as do humans. I haven't seen another mammal drink milk from another species besides humans. Maybe they are on to something! If you cut out dairy, you may find that your digestion improves. Some even experience fewer headaches due to the lack of natural chemicals found in cheeses, tyramine. Cow milk often contains hormones that may react with your body and increase sebum in your skin. Sebum is responsible for clogging your pores. Giving up dairy may give you warm glowing skin. There are high numbers of estrogen and progesterone hormones in cow milk. Our bodies take these hormones as a byproduct when we consume dairy. These additional hormones can cause mood swings. You might find these are alleviated when you cut out dairy from your diet. Adding foods like broccoli, kale, dandelion greens, and spinach into your daily diet can help maintain the nutrients your body needs, like vitamin D, calcium, and protein. Be sure to have your B-12 checked regularly by a physician. There are plenty of foods other than dairy that we can consume to provide needed nutrients. Did you know just three Brazil nuts a day can help alkalize the body and calm any unwanted inflammation?

I will also tell you that I have given up gluten and why. Personally, gluten makes me tired. Very tired! I decided that if I was going to eat the way I should, I had to go all the way! Research shows that your other food allergies may stop when you stop eating gluten. You may also experience less brain fog and lose a few pounds!

If you've read this far, thank you! I started my Gluten-free, Vegan, Plant-based diet 16 days ago. I'm feeling better, lost ten pounds, and I'm excited to get back to a healthy diet! I try to make sure the things I do eat are organic. We'll save that for another day.

Let me know if you would be interested in recipes and ideas for a clean, healthy lifestyle! There are so many topics I could cover, including chemical-free cleaning, eating, and more!