Hemp Away!

 I was today years old when I found out about Hemp protein. Why? Why am I always one of the last to know about really great products that have been both on the market for years and they have been serving and helping others for that long if not longer? Hemp seeds are sometimes controversial due to the fact that they are associated with marijuana, but that plant and its products are now legal in many states. You can eat it, you can chew it, you can smoke it, you can bake your brownies if you want to. I think there is still a limit on sharing your "product" with others, and you can't have a garage full of it or the plants themselves. Those types of things are frowned upon unless you go the distance and get your license(s). I don't think that will happen to me.

    I will however imbibe in the whole holistic habit of bettering my body by using hemp protein for both weight loss and muscle building. I'm rather excited and expectant about my new form; I don't mind trying new powders and proteins to create the best results. The other day I ran across a blog post of a woman who was really fit and I just fell in love with her muscle structure because her body shape and design resembled my own, and I know that if I work hard, eat correctly, exercise, rest, and do what I'm supposed to do, I could end up with the form I want! It's doable! It's a goal, something I can set and look forward to. It's an achievement and no one loves reaching a personal goal more than I do. I kick my own butt, I don't need anyone else doing that for me. 

    If I set a goal, if I set my mind to something, you don't have to worry about it, just consider it done. I may have to patiently wait for time to catch up, but the deed is done, and I will prevail. I am nothing if not persistent, and that goes triple for myself. I am the one person I want to impress. I don't care what everyone or anyone else thinks, I want my approval! This is going to be great. I can already tell. I've been reading about it, I've searched the internet, and asked people at the health stores, I'll call my doctor on Monday to get her opinion. My dermatologist told me that she's been using hemp protein and drops for over three years and she dropped another 14-16 pounds when she did! She is younger than me, but still had that baby fat to get rid of - she believes the hemp protein was a key factor in that loss! I hope so.

    According to health experts, doctors, medical studies, and more, hemp protein is an awesome way to get your body full of antioxidants, magnesium, and more than 20 amino acids in fact, and it has a good amount of fiber as well. Love my fiber. Just be careful not to overdo the fiber thing and end up stopped up, that's not fun. Water, water, and more water. The thing is, I drink about 100 ounces or more of water every day, so that's not been an issue, but I wanted to put it out there for people who don't drink as much as I do.  Hemp protein also provides essential fats such as Omega 3 and Omega 6.  You can't get high or intoxicated with hemp powder, though it does have a tiny bit of THC, it's not even close to the illegal limit, and the powers that it carries outweigh the negative nellies trying to be all religious on you. Go with science, the Bible never says a word about plant-based foods being bad for you. That being said, some plants are poisonous and you should know about that as well. Stay away from Bella Donna. Just sayin'. 

    Hemp powder is readily available at your stores, or it should be. I order mine on Amazon, but Trader Joe's has a pound canister for around $22.  I didn't see much of a difference between that brand and the one I ordered, but there was a price difference. I'm going to see what I think about the powder first before I try out different brands. I think I'm going to add my collagen to it obviously, and I'll use it for 30 days to see what, if any, differences I can see. This is gonna be one of those times when I do step on the scale just to see if there was a difference. I hate the scale and I said I wasn't going to step on it again, but I think I will so I can see if the product is playing a role in the transformation of this new body of mine. I hope it does. I'd love to say it was the key that opened the door to my success! I really would love to say that. Something has to give. I've been dieting and exercising like a mad woman for two years. I'd like to see more results than I am.

    The best thing about the new hemp protein powder is that I'm so new to it I don't have any prejudiced thoughts about it. It will be whatever it is. Some say it tastes funny, but I like grass. I don't know if I have ever said that, I think I have blogged about it. McDonald's unsweetened tea tastes like ice-cold grass in water, and I love it. I mean, I LOVE THE HECK OUT OF IT. So yeah, this shouldn't be a problem. I also like black licorice; you can make of that whatever you will. I think the hemp protein is going to be a friend. I will welcome it into my house, into my body, and then I will report the results. Heck, if they're really good results, I may post pictures! OMG! 

Photo Credit: Nutiva.com

Monk Fruit Chocolate Cupcakes. (Yes)

 Last week I made a batch of cupcakes for Laura and me, but I ended up eating every last one of them because she didn't like the bitter taste associated with using Stevia rather than regular granulated sugar. I'm cooking without sugar, so I'm not going to please my daughter as often as I will be creating a more healthy and alternative lifestyle in the kitchen.  She can get over it.  I agree with Laura that the Stevia was rather bitter, but the good news is, last week when I made the dark chocolate cupcakes, the bittersweet chocolate I used made them taste like they are supposed to taste. She's just not a big chocolate fan. Don't ask me where she came from, I really have no idea.

    This week, because I can, I decided to make another batch (6) of dark chocolate cupcakes, but this time I used monk fruit rather than Stevia.  WOW. What a huge difference. I also used coconut oil instead of vegetable oil. I used baking powder and baking soda, rather than just the powder, and I also used almond and coconut flour rather than regular flour. If you use coconut and/or almond flour, you need to realize they are so much denser than regular all-purpose or cake flours, and you will have to use that extra egg and you will have to use more liquid. If you don't you'll have cookie dough on your hands rather than cupcake batter. Truth.

    So, I take the recipe online, cut it in half, and mix the wets in one bowl, stir them all up nice and fluffy, then in another bowl I blend the drys.  I fluff with a spatula before pouring in the sugar/egg mixture and I use a whisk to mix it up. This time, like I said, you have to pay a bit of attention to the thickening of the batter if you substitute flours. I did, and I needed more milk; just a tad, but it was necessary.  I decided to use the little paper cups in the cupcake pan since it's older and has a little rust going on with it.  I sprayed the inside of the papers very very lightly, and I added the right amount so the cupcakes would not build over the paper, but come flush with the tops.  Perfect.

    The centers of these cupcakes had a bit of a concave look to them, I'm not sure why. That typically means they're wet heavy, but when I tested them the top bounced right back up again.  I removed them from the oven, let them set for 30 minutes before adding the icing, and there you go - - happy camper. I am not lying when I say I could sell these things. I'm not sure I'd make a whole lot of money on them, but they are worthy to eat and people love chocolate. If you break it down the cupcake is about 60-70 calories, and has zero sugar! I love that. The icing is another story, but since I'm not really a diabetic I feel that it's OK if I use confection sugar for the icing as long as I am not sharing them with anyone who could be harmed. Laura appreciated it too.

    I didn't have a squeezy thing to put the icing on with so Laura told me I could use the corner of a Ziplock sandwich bag. You have to cut the corner tip and it supposedly flows out right on top like a real live squeezy thing. It didn't. I didn't cut the tip correctly, but it was a new and fun experience, and I did get a really good laugh out of it. I like experimenting. It's not beyond me to get really messy when I do. Nothing says "go ahead and take the challenge" in the kitchen than experimenting with chocolate icing! It's a win-win no matter what happens. Things could get really sticky, and end up in a glorious mess, but OK...I'm up for that too. As long as I'm laughing at myself and learning something. It's all good.

No really, it is all good! Every bit of it. These cupcakes are amazing.

Photo Credit: ME

Work Outs With Weights.

 Just about everyone knows by now that muscles weigh more than fat, but there are still those who don't realize that the muscles also help with the lowering of calorie intake as they are constantly working in your body while fat basically just sits there. When you have more fat you move less, it makes sense. When you have more muscles you move more, that makes sense. The muscles burn more calories even when they are not being activated, which should also make sense. The best solution for anyone (not only in my opinion) to burn calories and also fat in our bodies, is to move, to build up those muscles, and to do this on a regular and consistent basis. You can't expect miracles without the work. That, in particular, makes sense.

    There are so many ways to build these muscles. We can run, we can walk, we can lift, we can push, we can pull, we can hang, and we can resist. We don't have to look or think about looking like a monster in order to get the desired sculptured body (form) that we want. We all come in different packages, and we need to be aware of this fact before we go off trying to kid ourselves about what we can achieve. Achieve what you can, achieve what you believe is possible, but never expect something to happen that isn't possible because that mental anguish can stop you in the future from achieving any goal you set. In other words, do yourself a favor and know yourself, figure it out, so that you're not setting yourself up for failure. Set yourself up for success!

    Me? Well, let's see. I'm of European descent. I am 5'6" tall or just over, so that makes me right at 168 cm or so.  I currently weigh more than I want to, so I won't post that here, but there was a time when I weighed 216 pounds or nearly 100 kg! I think I would much rather say 100 kg than 216 pounds! One hundred and sixty-eight cm sounds so much taller than five foot six inches, too!  I began my weight loss journey on August 3, 2020, and I've not looked back. I've had a few tiny setbacks, times when I didn't go to the gym or eat properly, but for the most part, well over 80% of the time, I've been pretty good about my diet, my exercise program, my mental state, and my persistent methods of keeping the weight off that I have lost. I've lost over 50 pounds, but I'm not where I want to be.

    I thought I was there once. I was able to slip into my daughter's jeans for the first time ever, and I walked around the house telling her I was going to raid her closet until I realized I didn't really like what she had in it. She and I don't wear the same styles, but it was incredibly satisfying to be able to fit into her jeans and say I've achieved at least THAT in my program.  I decided (stupidly) to step on the scales, thinking I would be close to her weight as well. I was so incredibly wrong! What I saw, the number that flashed before me, was so high, so very much higher than I had even expected it to be, and I just nearly broke down crying. I was devastated the entire weekend over having stepped onto that scale. Here I was flying high from the emotional lift of wearing her jeans, only to come crashing down to the ground. I wanted to throw the scales out the damn window! How could that thing lie to me that way?

    What had happened was simple. I had lost inches and built muscles. I hadn't lost weight. Weight is a number. We need to remember that. We shouldn't be all that worried or bothered with numbers unless it's your BMI or your blood sugar number if you're diabetic. Those numbers count. Muscles build your mind, they build your soul, they build your spirit, they build your body, and yes, they build your weight count. Don't step on the scales. Just work out, eat correctly, rest, and love yourself. Buy the clothes that fit, and feel great about yourself. Why intentionally harm your mind over something less important in the first place?

    What I'm doing, and have been doing, is a daily workout from home, while I watch Jason Bond, my Scots Gaelic tutor, or while I watch Steven Hart, my Forex money trading coach. I lift 8-pound weights and watch, or I stand in front of the monitor and do Zercher-style squats with an empty bar. I think it weighs 10 pounds. I can't do the full squat due to my knee, but I go as far as I can.  We spend so much time in the chair at the monitor, we could also be using that time while we watch something. If you have to use your hands to type that's different, but if you don't, if you're just watching something, even if it's only for a few minutes, pick up the weights, the kettlebell, or the empty weight bar and just work out while your watch. Time builds on time, and your body will feel it and show it.

    When I was younger I was a sandlot barrel racer. I didn't really compete, but I had a horse and we went around barrels.  To say I've hit a few would be an understatement, but I was never thrown. I was thrown when I was 8 and I was thrown when I was 51, so I thought I was God's gift to riding. The thing is, I hit cans with my knees (mostly my right) and I've hit my hips a few times too, so now my right hip and my right knee like to remind me that I'm not 22, I'm not as thin as I was, and I'm not ever going to really be that person again, but I can be the best I can be at this age and at this time. I see people my age at the store who are barely walking, trying to survive another day, and my heart breaks for them. It doesn't take a Rocket Scientist to figure out that not moving, not exercising, eating poorly, and not getting the rest (less stress) can be dangerously damaging. You'll pack on 20 years, not just the pounds! STOP THE MADNESS!

    Figure out before it's too late to do something about it, that you need to move to get the blood pumping. More and more evidence is being presented medically that moving, exercising, a good diet, and better care such as not smoking, not drinking, and not adding heavy metals to your body, will lower if not eliminate cancers, diabetes, and more. You really can eat your way to a better life. You really can exercise your way into a better life. You are the one who makes that decision for yourself. Don't let a spouse, a friend, a kid, a neighbor, an employer or anyone else say otherwise. They live their life. They deal with their body. YOU are YOU and can only do what you can for yourself.  You deserve to be the best you possible. 

    If you only have a few hours in your week where you're watching TV or a YouTube video, you can do squats. You can run in place. You can lift weights.  You don't have to go to the gym to get this done. I like the gym for the machines, for the resistance I get with them. I like the gym for the hanging rack (TRX) or the battle ropes, which I have at home and don't use. I like the gym for the simple fact that I am not distracted by whatever or whoever is inside my house. I can step away for 30-40 minutes and get done what needs to be done, but if you don't have a gym, you can get all the running or walking done in the 3x3 foot area around your computer. You can lift, you can squat, you can crunch, you can do cheers. I'd say dance, but you need more space. Cheerleading is fun! Your dogs and cats will love you for it.

    So, to reiterate. MOVE. LIFT. SQUAT. You can even do wall pushups where you stand away from the wall, and do push-ups against the wall, slowly, allowing the resistance. It's fun, it's cheap, and it works. Believe me, and people say this all the time, if I can do it, you can do it. If you need to ask your doctor before you start a physical exercise program or diet, that's a good plan! Be safe, and have fun. Be YOU.

    

    This is a Zercher-style squat. You can do it with or without weight. You don't have to go all the way down. Do what you can, and build on that.

Photo Credit: GarageGymBuilder.com

First Day Back to the YMCA!

 Officially, I suppose I started back yesterday when I paid for the membership, but yeah, today was my first day to work out at the YMCA again. I've been doing an at-home thing, walking, lifting, using the vibration plate, etc. I've been slacking off since it was so hot, and I had the book in my head, thinking I needed to work on it. I'm just being lazy is all it really amounts to. I make excuses as to why I don't need to muster up the power I need to walk across the street and work out like I should. Today is a different day. I went to the two different YMCAs that I am close to at home and the office. I only took a tour of both places before settling in to actually work out, but it was nice to get the layout and the motivation needed to make it happen.

    Bethany, OK has a YMCA that is really old and by old I mean it was there before I used it as a kid. It is parked right next to the Bethany Library.  When I was five or six I would leave the house and climb over a neighbor's fence to walk the mile to them both. Since I wasn't an actual member of the YMCA at that time, the ladies there only let me stay about 10-15 minutes when I'd show up. If I snuck in the back door I could go swimming, and they knew I was there. It was pretty obvious. I was the kid not wearing a swimsuit. I was still wearing my shorts and my t-shirt. I did take my shoes off! (That is if I had shoes on to begin with. It was a 50/50 chance, really.)

    Today when I went to the Bethany YMCA I looked around to see what all had changed since back in the day. The walls are the same, and some of the doors. The entire interior was a bit updated, and I could tell that the paint was going to be redone soon, but most of it was about the same as it was.  I didn't need to go see the pool, I don't think I'll really use it much. I may use it in the winter, I don't know. We'll see. I don't do laps. I only run in place and if everyone else would rather I didn't do that, I'm OK not doing that. I can take my turn on the leg press, the calf extension, the shoulder extension, the pec fly, and maybe the hip extension. I do like to row, and I do like to ride the recumbent bike. I don't do the treadmill because I can walk the parking lots, but when it rains I'll find my way over to one or the other gym to walk I'm sure.  I need my 10,000 steps!

    After viewing the Bethany Y I decided to use it on odd days from when I'm at the office, maybe Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Then I'll hit the home Y, the one across the street nearly every night, and either do a re-cap or just a few hanging squats on the rack. I think most people call them TRX rigs, but we just call it the rack here, so I'll stick with that. We say rings too, but they are more like hand stirrups if you think about it. I do about 50 squats, and 50 pulls, and then I die.  I die so I won't have to face the battle ropes. I didn't die hard enough today because they were handed to me. The personal trainer is a bit of a bear! I can't say he's a bastard, I know his father - - I mean, I'm his mother, so yeah, I should know his father. It would only make sense.

    Baby Boy can't be with me every night, but tonight was special, it was my first night back you know. He wanted to see it to believe it. Since he's a real live Drill Sgt in real life I take advantage of his meanness when I can. It pays off in the end, and I guess in the legs, arms, hips, calves, and chest too. LOL. That was funny. I made myself laugh. I do that. You don't have to laugh if you don't want to, I'm OK with that. 

    OK, so it's back to the gym for me, and I'll be walking with the workout. I don't know if I can get the 10,000 in plus the workout, but I will try. I can live with 7500-8000 and a good 30-40 minute stint.  Tonight, the first night back, I think we did 28-30 minutes. We basically went around the gym and decided which machines to use. The YMCA has changed out the good machines for what they say are even better ones, but they are much older I think. Then again, when you think about it, I'm older and I'm far better than so many young ones! Again, no, you don't have to laugh, I'm doing that for you.

    Viva la sweat!!

Photo Credit: Me!

Why Not the Y?

 If you keep up with me at all you know I live across the street from a YMCA. I have joined it about 4 or 5 separate times. They never charge me the start-up fee when I go back, so that's a plus. I once quit to go traveling when I knew I would be gone for several months. I quit because I was upset with the staff members not telling some of the patrons to get off the machines if they were not using them. I know that sounds petty, but when all they do is stand around talking and they are literally using two of the machines I could use, it makes me a bit frustrated. I would say something polite, but most of the people there wear hearing aids and pretend they can't hear me. I'm not kidding when I say I'm one of the youngest patrons!  It's no wonder they shut the doors at 8:00 p.m. and even earlier on Friday. Heck, if that wasn't bad enough, they are only open until noon on Saturday and they are closed on Sunday! 

    The YMCAs around the city don't have the same hours, most of them stay open later, they are open on the weekends, and the staff members will drill down like bulldogs if you ask them to. The Y across from my place caters to the elderly (as you may have guessed) and it's not uncommon to have a five to ten-minute conversation at the entrance as you assist one or two of them into or out of the building.  I'd say they're a bunch of old blue-haired women, but anymore there are a lot more younger blue-haired women around; if I'm honest about it. Grace and Betty tend to let their natural grey show these days.  

    One of the biggest pet peeves I had about the club by my place was the fact that some of the ladies still had that "we're all girls" attitude, and they'll strip down to nothing in the locker room, walk around and carry on in several different conversations as if it's a normal thing to do! I do NOT want to see this. I have never really been all that comfortable with sharing and showing off my lady bits to others (other than my spouse).  Call me old-fashioned, or are they actually old-fashioned? I'm not sure. I know I just don't want to see what I saw and can't unsee! I literally live across the street; I can walk home to shower, I can walk home to change. I can walk home to carry on naked conversations with my dogs and cats, I don't need to be a part of the Old Hen Social Club of the OKC YMCA!  Nothing I have to add to those conversations needs to be added. I prefer to keep my eyes averted from being subjected to the burning that comes with those experiences.

    There is a YMCA just up the road from where I work now, so I'll probably head out over there for the lunch hour. I don't take lunch now, I'm usually just working through it. I think I will take the hour, maybe even think about taking an hour and 10 minutes so I can be sure to get there, park, walk, work out, walk back to the car, drive back, and land back in my comfortable chair at the office, where I am the ONLY ONE in the office, to begin with. I think I can justify that extra time since I don't take smoke breaks, power naps, or break breaks. I tend to mosey out the door around 4:30 so I'll start mosey-ing around 4:45 to make up for any lost time at the lunch hour. I won't actually go at noon, that would be stupid. I'll make it at 11:30 or 1:00 I'm sure. Either way, I'll put in 4 or 5 workouts a week during the day, and I'll even bring my 8-pound bells to work to lift between assignments.  I could get really creative and bring my chin-up bar and hang it in the doorway! Maybe. I'm thinking maybe.

    After the Bethany YMCA lunch meetings, I can always jog (or power walk) over to the Y across the street and do a light ring/TRX pull training, perhaps a 10-15 minute row.  I love the new row machines. I keep threatening to buy one. If I had more space in my place I would. Heck, if I had more space in my place, I would never join a gym. I pretend I have space now. I don't have space now. The cats and the dogs constantly remind me that my workout equipment is in their way; they can suffer. I have to at least make an effort to do more at home when I can.  (I actually caught Fat Sammy the cat, lounging over the top of my weight bar the other day. He looked so peaceful. I couldn't move him. I had to forego the routine.)

    It's beginning to rain a bit, and my knee is reminding me that it hates me. I have about 10 different knee braces; one for every day of the week really, and several more for the severity of the hatred that it spews. At least I have a plan to get new knees when I see Jesus. He's promised me that and so much more. For now, He and the Holy Spirit will have to deal with the temple I have to work with. It's not always easy to maneuver it, but we make it happen - - by we, I mean THEM and me. They do the heavy lifting, literally - - I show up for the credit and the photos. Who am I kidding? I'm not doing photos yet. I will someday. I may even let my good friend Michael Givens take "special" photos - - talk about showing off the unseen! He's about the only man I know I could fully trust not to laugh too loudly.  I thought I would do that for my birthday last year, but I just didn't have the body I wanted. Maybe next Spring before heading off to Scotland. That way, if anyone in the U.S. needs to giggle I will be thousands of miles away when they do! 

    I really am glad I'm a member of the YMCA rather than some other club. It's part of the fabric of my life. Bethany's YMCA was such a staple in my life as I was growing up; it's good to be able to return and to see the same oak trees I climbed as a kid as I walked into the building. I don't think anyone will be upset if I climbed to the top of one but I'll ask first. You never know if laws have changed and I don't want to have to call one of my kids to bail me out of the City Jail. Too embarrassing really.

    

    

Photo Credit: Trainwithsculpt.com

    

Sugar Free Chocolate Cupcakes with Icing.

 I think I have told you before, but I'll do it again, I don't actually have diabetes, but I have friends and family who do, so I'm doing my best to empathize.  I'm choosing to live my life, to eat and exercise, as if I had diabetes.  It's better to pretend I do have it, and screw things up than it would be to actually have the disease and not be able to maintain what my doctors say is best. I did speak with my doctor before going on this journey. She was not only 100% supportive of my decision, but she also gave me diet plans, and recipes, and even told me hacks and tips to make things easier on myself. She stated that I should see some weight loss if for no other reason than that I am dropping all of the sugars and a lot of carbs.

    I don't know if I've actually dropped any weight but I do fit better into the clothes I bought last year when I weighed less than what I weigh now. I added a few extra pounds due to my weight lifting routine. Let me tell you, that did not make me happy! I almost threw the bathroom scales out the window, and I don't even have a window in my bathroom!  That's how upsetting it was to stand on the damn thing to see that I had gained 12 pounds rather than losing weight. Oh, the shock!  I know, I know, muscle weighs more than fat. I get that, but I don't like that number and I just refuse to see it again (so I don't look).

    Today, because it's a Saturday and because I can, I decided to make sugar-free chocolate cupcakes and chocolate icing to go on top! OMG...yes!  My daughter told me that if you take Stevia or regular sugar, and you blend it in the Nutribullet or food processor, it turns into confection sugar. I could use that for the icing. I had NO IDEA! Look at her, little Miss Betty Crocker! She can boil water, make her icky ramen noodles from a pack, and she knows about food processing sugar! What a gem! I think I'll keep her. 

    The cupcakes (6 of them) use only 1/2 of the cake recipe I was given. I filled up the cupcake cups (papered) and cooked them at 350 degrees (F) for 16 minutes and they look perfect. I did the whole knife test, and it was in fact, clean! So, now I'm just waiting for them to cool off a bit so I can add the frosting or the icing on top.  I used cream cheese, softened butter, vanilla, and confection sugar-free sugar for the topping.  I'm going to post a picture when they are ready, and I'll even wait a minute before I finish the blog to report whether or not I really (honestly) like them, or if I am feeling a bit sad for my friends and family. I mean, I do feel that way, it's not an easy thing to do. You can't go anywhere and find foods or desserts that are readily ready for those who can't take sugar!

***********  waiting ******************

    OK, it's been about 15 minutes since I was last writing. The cupcakes are out of the oven. I put them into the fridge to cool a bit so I could spread the icing on top of them.  I took a photo, and then I ate one. I absolutely loved it! It was flat out better than the regular cake I buy at the store, but maybe less sweet than the cake mix you can buy and add water and eggs to.  I can see where someone could taste the difference between the Stevia and granulated sugar, but I also think that I could tweak that by using monk fruit next time. I don't mind it. I loved it! My daughter, who is not a big fan of going sugar-free, not only didn't like it, she said it was bitter. I didn't think so, but she's not a dark chocolate fan either.  We both loved the icing! I loved all of it. I think in the future I will use monk fruit rather than Stevia, and I could add a bit more vanilla, or orange extract, or something to bring out the sweeter tastes. I could use coconut oil rather than vegetable oil too!

    There you have it. I loved it.  You may or may not. I would also add that I used almond flour mixed with whole wheat flour.  You could use coconut flour but remember it is heavier and may need to run through the food processor before you mix it into the batter. LOVE experimenting in the kitchen!! There will be more exploration with this particular recipe. It will happen. I will perfect it. Don't expect me to bake, bag, and sell my food - - nope. I'm not into that, but if you're close to my house, and I know and love you, you can always drop in and have coffee or tea with me and be gifted something sweet (without sugar). 

****** AFTER THOUGHT******

I ordered Monk Fruit sweetener from Amazon and it arrived. I took one small taste of it and can say without a doubt that it is 1000% better (sweeter) than Stevia. Now, I'll do a bit of research to see if it will cause a blood spike. Always learn.

Calories: 70

Carbs: 9

Sugars: 1 (from the flour)

    

    

Poor Experience at a FANTASTIC Restaurant.

     If you come to Oklahoma you simply must go to one of our hundreds if not thousands of stores named Braum's Ice Cream and Dairy Stores. They are literally everywhere. By EVERYWHERE I mean you can't hardly pass into or out of a town in our state without seeing one or two of these stores. They may have technically started in Kansas, but we claim them. They moved here for production, and have been here since the 1960's I believe. It's an amazing place full of goodness, love, kind people, and the ever-so-real feeling that the Braum's family is there inside each store! It really feels like a family-friendly place. (Which is why I won't let this experience ruin me.)

    Today, as the title of the blog implies, I had a really bad experience at Braum's and I don't mind blogging about it. I went online to leave a review on Yelp! as well. I don't like that many reviews given on the site are negative, so I do try to remember to give good reviews from time to time, but it's just that when you do have a horrible experience, the first thing you want to do is alert the manager, tell the public, and do whatever you can do to rectify the issue. You can't, if you're a good Oklahoman, stand by and watch a great institution like Braum's get away with what happened to me and others in this particular store. If the corporate office needs to do a deep dive into this one, so be it. It was HORRIFIC!  No one should have to endure what we went through.

    It may sound or seem like I'm just being a "Karen" but when it comes to Oklahoma tourism, Braum's is simply a huge part of that scene. We talk about the constant courtesy of the stores, and we talk about the consistency of each store. We talk about the great product of the stores. So, when I walked into my local Braum's today at 62nd and North May Ave, in Oklahoma City, I experienced what I experienced. I need to let you know, I need to let the manager know (and I did) and I need to let the corporate office know because we don't need this type of event happening to outsiders who will then go off and bad-mouth Braum's to the point of losing future business.  These people need to be sat down and talked to!

    First world issue? Yes, it is. I'm absolutely sure that the 3rd world countries have never had to deal with the improper customer service and disgusting filth (Yes, they have) that I witnessed.  The difference is, that the 3rd world countries are in fact 3rd world countries, and they don't have properly running plumbing. They aren't expected to have clean floors, clean counters, clean tables, and restaurants that don't smell as if open waste is on the menu!  I couldn't quite put my finger on it, I knew I smelt something, but then it was gone as soon as I thought I smelt it. I ordered my sundae, paid for it and I went to the grocery side of the store to buy a few things.  

    After picking bagels, whipping cream in a can, and one tub of (half a gallon) sugar-free ice cream, I waited at the till to be checked out. No one came to check me out. I waved at the manager behind the ice cream counter and made a sort of universal gesture to ask if anyone could come to check us out. By this time there was a line behind me. They've always had someone at that end of the store, but not tonight. No big deal right? A man came over from the other side of the store where he had been mopping the floor.  He was Middle Eastern, he was quiet, and he wasn't smiling. Everyone smiles at Braum's!  It's an incredibly happy place!  He saw my shirt which had a Jesus slogan, and he cursed me in Arabic. He either cursed me or he cursed Christ, I'm not sure, but he was openly rude, and I made eye contact with him and let him know I didn't appreciate it. He said something under his breath, and the woman behind me said something like,  "OK dude, that's enough!"  

    Who hired this man? He was NOT friendly at all. No, the clerk simply rang me up, put my food in the bag, and started to walk away, leaving several other people in line before huffing about it, and staying to check them out. WOW!  If you hate yourself that much fella, just quit and don't make it so hard on the rest of the world!  I just shook my head thinking I've never had rude service like this at Braum's.  I went to the ice cream counter to pick up my daughter's sundae that I had ordered and paid for when I first came in.  Not only was it not ready, it had never been called back to even be made!

    I asked the manager again because all of the workers were busy on other orders for the drive-through or the ice cream area if my order was completed. He told me it had not been called back.  He asked if it was the single turtle sundae, I said yes, and he began to make it.  That's when I caught another whiff of the horrific nasty smell that I thought I had smelt before.  One of the associates had opened the back area door and a rush of filthy air that could only be described as human waste came into the lobby! Several people were immediately notified by their noses!  The manager quickly shut the door - - too late.  Can you imagine?  I didn't have to ask him anything, his face was a tell-tale sign.  Another customer did, however, ask, and she was told it was being taken care of. Really? I didn't see any plumbers in the restaurant! Shouldn't they SHUT THE PLACE DOWN?

    I left, shaking my head, but just as I did I caught the face of the Arabic man again. He made a gesture toward me. I decided to pray for him rather than report it to his boss. First, he needs Jesus! Secondly, I didn't want to stay in the nasty filthy restaurant any longer than I had to.  When I got to the car my daughter, who had been waiting and watching asked me what was going on. When I told her she said she had smelt that same odor a time or two from when she was in the drive-through. Wow. I'm not sure exactly what's going on, but I won't be quiet about this one. Nope. Not only was the floor nasty, but the counters also were nasty, the tables were nasty, and if they were wiping that down with contaminated water the Health Department needs to know about it.  The public needs to know about it. 

    I left a poor review obviously, and I'll follow up with the corporate office tomorrow.  In over 50+ years that I've eaten at Braum's Ice Cream, I can say I have only had a handful of poor experiences. That's saying a lot really.  They are usually very consistent, very precise, and very friendly.  The portions are good, and all of the food is fresh. This is the ONLY time I've ever smelt that smell so strongly. I think now that my daughter mentioned it, I may have once smelt it when in the drive-through, but I must have written it off as old milk on the ground or something. Not this time. It was an undeniably human waste stench, and it was obvious.

    C'mon Braum's.  You can't let this be a mark on your nearly perfect reputation. Let's fix this.

Photo Credit:  Braum's Ice Cream and Dairy Stores

Read the Labels, Folks!

 Many people may remember that there was a time when nutritional facts of a product were not required to be labeled on the packages of processed food.  In fact, not only were they not labeled, they were often lied about through advertisements in magazines, on television, on billboards, and such.  I clearly remember ads for Coca-Cola and Pepsi basically saying they would help you lose weight and feel energized. For a very long time after requirements were adhered to by most manufacturers, the marketing departments went crazy with misleading innuendo, lies, flat slander, and libelous accusations! It was crazy! War of the words really, but words have power!

    Today, every consumable product is supposed to be labeled with the now very recognized label(s) which state the amount of sugar, fats, carbs, and proteins, not to mention the daily values of said product.  Candy bars and such may have these types of details in very very fine print inside the wrapper folds (intentionally) and they may not be in label form, but simply written out so as to be in compliance. Good luck trying to find a magnifying glass to read those labels.  Most people who would read them don't need them, we only want them. There is a difference.

    Since I began thinking about what it would be like to live like and eat like a diabetic, I have been purposely reading and scanning labels not only in my own kitchen of course, but at the grocery stores, and I've even taken to calling restaurants or looking their menus up online to see what nutritional facts they may be concealing or boasting! To my surprise, there are a lot of restaurants that are in compliance and a lot that still are not. I think they have handouts at the register if you want it, or you can go to their app and find it, but the ones that don't want you to know what is in their food don't make it that easy for you to find out what is in their food. This can be devastating to anyone who has the real need to eat with restrictions such as sodium, sugar, fats, proteins, or carbs.

    This morning I thought I would grab a breakfast bar before I head out for the day. I typically did that with either a couple of raspberry fig bars or maybe a Clif bar. I like them thicker more "meaty" type bars so I feel like I've eaten something. Those crunchy air-type oat cakes don't do it for me.  If I'm going to eat something, I want to eat something. I want my belly to know it has been fed!  I grabbed the package of raspberry figs when I decided first to look at the label. Just in case. I said to myself, I bet it's awesome. I bet it's low in everything. WAS I WRONG? OMG....the two labels I'm discussing today will be posted down below so you can see them for yourself.

    All I can say is I am glad I picked up the boxes of Advance snacks at Aldi the other day. I've been eating them here and there for snacks because while I was in the store I saw that they had a new shipment of a flavor I hadn't tried. I checked the labels, and they were good to go, so I bought two or three boxes since I live with Laura and know she would want to try them as well.  CHECK OUT THE DIFFERENCE!!  One pack of 2 figs has 19 sugars. Can you freakin' believe that? There is ONE in the Advance bar. ONE sugar.  There are 200 calories in just two tiny cakes! There is 140 calories in the breakfast bar that has great scrumptious chocolate all over it. There are 38 carbohydrates (38!!) in the figs, and only 19 in the bar.  WOW....just WOW!!  Then there are the other facts such as there are only three (3) grams of protein in the fig cakes and 11 grams of protein in the breakfast bar.  It's a no-brainer.

    Neither of these bars/figs is going to make me feel as if I've had a full-blown big breakfast. The point of these types of food is to basically carry me through until such a time that I can sit down and eat lunch, or dinner.  I don't typically eat a big breakfast, I fast from about 8:00 p.m. to about 10 a.m. so the little snack thing is just for the tiding over the period until I can have a good lunch.  Still, to think that I would be so ignorant for so long about how many sugars and carbs I'm stuffing into my head just because it comes packaged in what appears to be a healthy fun snack is really a sad statement! I really dropped the ball on that one!  It really does pay to read the labels, folks. It really really matters (ESPECIALLY, if it really mattered).

    Eating is the one thing we basically (most of us) have some control over. When I go to the store and see what families are putting into their grocery baskets I'm so tempted to just stop them and go all MOM on them, and I don't even know them. What I can see with my eyes is that they are obese, sluggish, rolling around rather than being there in the moment. One by one, two by two, three by three, I see them just stashing soft drinks, chips, candy, sugary cereals, cookies, and more into their baskets. This way of eating is killing people. I know people have been screaming this for years, and I was one of those people who routinely, every single time, put bad food into my cart! I made those mistakes and it has dearly cost me!

    How many years do we have left on this Earth? We don't know.  We like to tease and joke and say we can eat all the chocolate cake we want in Heaven and we can all the french fries we want, dipped in cheese and chili!!  That may be true, but here on Earth in the bodies, we were given, that's not really an option we should be considering on a frequent basis. There's nothing wrong with treating oneself to something really good, but then again, if your body isn't used to it, it may not be the best decision to even indulge for the sake of reward!  Be careful. Knowing your body could save your life!

    Not trying to be a kill-joy here, I just want you to know that there are options in this world now, and the real and concrete facts are that if you are living with diabetes or pre-diabetes, it may be best for you to consider reading the labels, and doing exactly what your doctors tell you to do. Read books, read magazine articles, go online, and find the truth. It's not hard these days.  I just bought a great little book that will help me with preparing meals, making menus, knowing the portions, and such. It's a game changer in that I never took this much time to love myself the way I am loving myself now. I don't have to do this, but I think I like that I'm taking an extra few moments a day to consider what is really and truly best for my body and myself. When the body feels good the mind feels better, and the spirit is apt to be happy too. We host the Spirit of God inside of us if we are Christians. This body we walk around with is bought with a price, and it does not belong to us!  We owe it to ourselves and to our Creator to be in the best health possible. 

    Please do yourself the favor and courtesy of reading all the labels. You may think what you're eating is OK, when really, it may not be...and you may be really surprised to find out that heavy whipping cream has zero sugar in it while regular milk has something like 12-15 grams! WHAT? Yep! Facts.

I'm not a proponent for KETO either, but these Advance bars are supported by those who are doing that diet as well.

Photo Credit: Me

Not Easy!

 Let me just start out by saying, "DAMN"!  This is not easy! I decided to live as if, and to eat as if I were a diabetic. I'm doing this to hopefully find empathy for several of my friends (and unrelated relatives who were/are married into the family).  I was wrong when I thought I could call out five or six people who I knew were diabetic. Seems a great deal more of my followers, friends, and acquaintances are either diabetic or prediabetic.  It's really scary how many people don't know if they are, and they won't get checked for fear that they are. If you feel that you could be prediabetic, and you don't check, you could be making the condition so much worse than it needs to be.

    My ex-sister-in-law, I'll call her a friend, says she is also prediabetic, but she has never really done much about it. She said she lives her life as she wants to. I'm not going to cut her down, God knows we've done enough of that over the past 34 years that we've known one another. (We're a lot closer than most, and are truly more like real sisters)  I'll call her Donna, but that's not her name.  Donna is overweight, and she knows it. She doesn't exercise as she should because she works ten and twelve-hour shifts at least four days a week, and it's just not fun to do all that needed exercise. I do get it. I do understand. However, I want her around for a long long time and if that means she needs to eat better and exercise, I'm going to wrestle her to the ground and make it happen. (You'd have to know to know. It's not really going to happen.)

    Donna and I are going to go out to dinner this evening and we decided to go to Olive Garden.  I called the restaurant to ask if they had vinaigrette salad dressing, and they do not. They have a Balsamic Vinegar that they can bring to me, which is good. I went on their website to find their menu and was surprised (and delighted) to find that they really do break down everything they offer in terms of nutritional value. That would (and is) a great help for anyone who is thinking of eating there if they have to watch calories, carbs, sugar, fats, and/or sodium. It's awesome. You can preplan your choice so that when you arrive you can tell the waiter what you want without having to look at the menu. Maybe we should be doing that anyway so that we don't have to wait at the table staring at the menu. I wonder how many restaurants actually have their full menu listed and with all the stats?

    The best choices are not always the choices you want. I had already told myself and Donna that I would be ordering the soup and salad. It's "endless" at Olive Garden, but I don't need endless. One bowl is 16 oz and that's two servings. One salad is plenty and if it has Balsamic vinegar on it I'm good. I may sprinkle a bit of olive oil on it as well. One breadstick has 140 calories and only 1 sugar. I'm good. The sodium content is a bit high but not so much that it is out of the ballpark or out of range of what my goals and expectations are. Olive Garden would be a good place for people to go if they're trying to keep all the numbers straight and in order. I think I would find myself going to the same restaurants really, and maybe only branching out to others once I've checked their entire menu. It's just not that easy to get them to post it. You can't count on one portion one day being the same as it is another day from restaurant to restaurant. 

    When people in the UK (or other parts of the world) think of American food, one of the first things they think of is portion sizes.  We do tend to overload the plates here in America. We think it's good hospitality I suppose. Having an eye out for numbers such as carbs, sugars, calories, and fats now, I think maybe I could double-think that practice. I personally, don't eat much, and my personal portions are smaller than most.  I have been eating smaller portions for about two years now, and have dramatically lost weight and girth because of it.  I'm not going to jump on top of a box and shout it, but it does need to be mentioned. If you are wanting to be a more health-conscious eater, you'll need to first consider what you are currently eating, and the sizes or portions of those foods.  EVERYONE loves ice cream, but we don't need to eat a full tub of it in one sitting.

    That's about it. I didn't have too much to add to today's blog other than I think about what I need to think about. I plan and preplan. If you know me, you know my plans always have plans and my checklists start with making a checklist to make that checklist. I've always been an overthinker, and sometimes it pans out for me! In this case, it did. I can walk into Olive Garden and order exactly what I want while Donna oogles over the menu and then orders exactly what she thought she would order in the first place. I've known the woman for 34 years, she hasn't changed much, but I love her!  I literally wrote in my divorce decree that I get her! (She laughed.)

Photo Credit: BecsBargins.com

    

No-Added Sugar Ice Cream! (Braum's)

 I went to Aldi's yesterday to do the initial shopping for my experiment.  I have decided to live as if I had a diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes. I don't have it, but I want to experience what my friends and family may be feeling. I want to know the struggles they have when it comes to preparing or even thinking of preparing meals for themselves.  What I've come to learn in just the very short time I've been living this way, (two days) is that there are so many people who refuse to give up sugars and carbs even if they are diagnosed. There are still others who don't have diabetes, but they live with a spouse, loved one, or roommate who does, and those people refuse to cut out the sugars and carbs too; all but forcing the person with diabetes to be tempted because the food is in the house! I can't imagine the actual struggle! The pseudo struggle is bad enough!

    I went to Aldi's because it is a good-sized store and it would have quite a few things I could check out, read the labels for, and you know, just make good meal plans based on what I can see. I went the 2nd step and bought foods that have less or no sugar, and I am determined to live as if I actually had the disease so I can really understand the obstacles and difficulties. I think if more people were willing to help others and be more accountable there would be less illness and more controlled situations. When I mentioned I was doing this type of experiment to my friends and those I love, I received a few different responses. (I expected that)

    One friend said, "Oh, that's really wonderful of you, but if you don't actually have it you don't have to do that."  I know that.  I really don't have to do this, but I want to, and I think maybe it may be another good way to finally lose those last stubborn 20 pounds that seem to be clinging onto me.  Another friend was more empathetic, she said, "If I thought I could do that I would," then she added that she was really grateful that she and her husband are well because that big of a change could split them up as a couple. That didn't surprise me.  Some people will not go that extra mile for their spouse EVEN WHEN the vows state that they will; through sickness and in health.

    One family member said he was proud of me and thought if our other family members had done that for someone we know it may have ended better for that person. I'm being vague on purpose. I don't want fingers being pointed, and I certainly don't want accusations being made, but I see the point. If we all were just a bit more empathetic instead of sympathetic, it may end up differently for some of those who we love and hope are around to enjoy more celebrations!  Still another friend said she would be happy to try doing it, she admitted to needing to lose weight, but she said she doesn't have time to prep meals really, and she didn't think she could sustain the strict guidelines when grabbing something fast and on the go is so easy.

    I forgot the ice cream when I went to Aldi. I forgot to even see if they sold it! I can't believe me. It's OK though because 9 times out of 10 times I buy my ice cream at Braum's Ice Cream and Dairy Stores anyway. Braum's is an Oklahoma staple company, and it would only make sense in my life that I buy all of my no-sugar-added ice creams from the best.  Well, I went there today, and they had a whole section of no-added sugar ice creams. I think people used to say no sugar, but even skim milk has natural sugars, so it's no added sugar.  The best of the best is, of course, CHOCOLATE.  Braum's had about 10 flavors I think. I bought the chocolate. It's really really good. There is a very minor aftertaste, but nothing that would be considered yucky by anyone. I'm happy!  I think if this is the way it is going to be I could live with this for sure. (I do have to add that I will miss the macaroons) I can make things with Stevia, but even in my wildest dreams, I can't imagine a Braum's store being completely no-added sugar/carb.

    For grins and giggles, as I finish off one of my half-gallon tubs of delicious and oh-s0-wonderful no-added sugar ice creams, I will buy the next, then the next, and just reiterate in my head that the decision I made was in fact the best one to be made. Sometimes you just have to pat yourself on the back and shove the ice cream into your mouth!

Photo Credit: Me

Living as if I Have Diabetes (an Experiment)

 First, before we get started, let me begin by saying I do not have diabetes. I have not been seen for it, I have no symptoms of it, and I've never been diagnosed with it. I think I did have my blood sugar checked when I was in the hospital last, they typically do that to screen you for symptoms.  As far as I know, and I don't really know, I have a typically healthy body.  All that being said, I know there are literally millions of great people living every day with the knowledge that they have diabetes, and there are millions more who have it but have never been diagnosed.

    DISCLAIMER:  I am not a medical doctor. Anything and everything I say is for information purposes, educational purposes, and maybe even entertainment purposes, but it is not meant to be added to or to replace any good sound medical advice you could receive from a licensed physician!  There, that's the legal stuff. Now, let's get on with what I'm getting on with these days.

    As I get older and older I'm finding that so many of my good friends, distant family members, and those who are married to family members, are being seen for and being diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. The list is not exactly lengthy, but it's long enough! If there is one person on my radar I want to be able to help them, and keep them accountable if possible, and now, I've decided to live my own life through a good diet and exercise program as if I have been diagnosed with it.  There are three major reasons for this decision: (1) I want all of my friends and family who have this terrible disease, to know that I am willing to stand with you to the point of eating with you and keeping you accountable. You need a buddy! (2) It really is just a healthy way of living and it cuts out so many bad foods. (3) It's so much more healthy for me to do this than to do Keto! I know that's a lame excuse, but it's true. I can't do Keto for more than 2 weeks without getting sick.

    Let's face it, we all like eating.  Stuffing our faces with goodness and feeling full is just too wonderful. Having the added responsibility of counting sugars, counting carbs, making sure the foods are trans-fat-free, and so forth is both daunting and not fun.  This is the reason everyone in this situation (in my opinion) could use a really enthusiastic buddy who is willing to read the labels, go the distance, buy the right things, prepare the right serving sizes, and find the right spices to make up for the really good stuff.  I have to be honest though, I have been eating pretty well for the past two years, so it wasn't much of a change for me. If I eat anything such as pretzels or chips these days it's really just a few anyway. Giving up the giant portions of food that you typically associate with Americans, wasn't that hard. I did that in 2020 and lost about 50 pounds.

    I have about 20 more pounds that I want to lose.  I think maybe by sticking to a good diet like this one will help me do just that. I am OK with waiting 6-8 months to lose that last 20. I'm not trying to impress anyone but myself.  My dog really doesn't care what I look like in a bikini. Most of the time I can be found wearing my yoga leggings anyway; they stretch and contract. I went from a size 18 to a size 12 and if I make it to an 8 in the near future that will be about the "size of it" because at 5'6.75" I think it's a good overall size.  My bones are literally larger than my daughters' bones and both of them weigh under what I weigh, but I can wear Laura's jeans now! I think I just need to tone and with that toning maybe lose a few more inches. This diet, and plenty of water, exercise, rest, meditation, and hot baths with essential oils will not only help, but I think it will do the job!

    I went to Aldi today (not only because I can, but also because I LOVE IT) and I was able to walk the aisles without feeling pressure from shoppers. Aldi shoppers take their time, they aren't in any rush.  I started with the produce section and made decisions based on what I have been researching. I can't have bananas, I can have a few grapes, cherries, berries, etc, but the sugary goodness of some fruits could eat up my entire allotment for each meal.  Could be a snack with peanut butter, if the apple was small.  I just have to pick and choose.  BREAD was the hardest thing to find. Most processed bread has too many carbs, too many sugars, and too many calories. I ended up with an Aldi brand protein bread with 12 grains, 35 calories per slice, and less than 1 gram of sugar, and with only about 20 slices in the loaf, it nearly broke the bank! GEEZ!

    Milk was interesting.   I have been drinking 2% Lactaid brand milk in the blue carton for 2 years but found out today it has 12 grams of sugar per cup! WHAT? Isn't sugar the whole LACTOSE thing? So wouldn't you think a Lactose reduced or free milk would, you know, have less sugar?  I'm now drinking Fairlife 2% as it has only 6 grams of sugar per cup.  There's another one, Organic Valley, but Aldi didn't sell it. They did have plain Greek yogurt with only 4 grams...that and some berries!  Oh, and speaking of desserts, you can totally do desserts with diabetes. I use Stevia anyway, but today I found about 10 things I could get and feel good about. We'll discuss that in another blog. 

    This is going to be an ongoing sort of journal for me. This way I can help others who may not have a buddy out there who is willing to be that inner friend who is saying "It's going to be OK. We can pray about this"  I know we can get through it. We only have to hold on a little longer anyway. Jesus is coming back, and friend, we can eat whatever, whenever, how much we want...YES!

    

Photo Credit:  Fairlife.com