Amino acids

So how are things with you?

I’m feeling free right now!

I do have to constantly rein myself in from thinking about weight loss. 

Have you had times when it really wasn’t on your mind?

I receive so many emails and Facebook ads about it, it’s hard to escape. It’s a complete mind shift, isn’t it? To think of health and joy rather than deprivation and punishment. Have you made that shift?

I have so far to go. Friends who are foodies were talking about all of their favorite restaurants and meals. Such an innocuous conversation to them. So loaded for me. That talk, for me, would be loaded with guilt and shame and regret. 

I’ve never managed to give up my addiction to dieting for very long. It’s truly an addiction. I’m not addicted to food, but to the way I use it. Dieting is part of the cycle.

If you are like me and your emotions with food seem out of control, I hope you check out Julia Ross, The Diet Cure. Along with amino acid supplements, I’ve added in fiber and apple cider vinegar supplements. Yes, it’s a bit of a drag making sure I take my supplements throughout the day, but it’s working. Emotions are normal (for me) and hunger is under control.

I believe amino acid therapy is a stunning revelation. What if much of what I’ve struggled with my entire life has always been about this? 

Remember, I’m not a doctor and you, as adults, are responsible for checking with your doctors and being careful about what you put into your bodies. 

I’m on a hunt now for a doctor who knows amino acid therapy so I can refine this approach. Standard medicine has just wanted to give drugs that, in the end, affect much of the same brain chemistry (but with side effects).

What has your experience been?

Positivity

How are you doing? I'm ok. It's been a challenging week, on many fronts. Brain chemistry can kick you in the rear pretty fast. Yesterday I slacked and didn't meditate until late. Bad idea. It really can establish your mindset for the day.

What's so interesting is that feeling the need for comfort actually made me more hungry yesterday. I don't think it was purely physically-initiated at all. I felt a sense of deprivation all day long. I had a few extra (healthy) calories in the end, without blowing it. Blowing it, for me, is saying, "To hell with it, I'll eat what I want." I'll take that as a victory.

Today's meditation (yay, already done) deals with how your mind and thoughts can determine your health. Emotional eating is a particularly tangible and clear example of that.

These meditations (the Oprah/Chopra free program) have a short Sanskrit mantra each day. Did you know that this ancient language actually changes your brain and body through vibrations? I think that's fascinating. This might explain some of the well-being I felt during yoga teacher training years ago. 

This morning I found my necklace from when I finished yoga teacher training.
It's "om" -- you've probably heard it.
Om is an expression of the foundational sound or vibration of all existence.

I'm working to find a middle place--some mantra as I try to get back to my practice, but the full-on kundalini approach is too much for me. Do you have any experiences with this you would share? I'd love to hear them. 

I've always been a breakfast eater. Not a huge one, but definitely needing it. But now, I'm finding eating later (10am) is actually helping me feel fuller during the day or at least not craving food constantly. I don't consider it intermittent fasting because I have my coffee with milk early in the morning and I don't have a hard cut-off in the evening. Trying to stick to finishing food before 9pm. Have you had any results with IF or some version of it?

Too many rules make me feel like a rebellious child!

Please comment and/or follow and share your thoughts!

a little joy

Happy Thursday!

I homeschool my daughter (this is our first year of two--hopefully). Because we both love animals and we are so fortunate to live near D.C., I signed her up for the once-a-week homeschool program at the National Zoo (https://nationalzoo.si.edu/). 

U.S.-born Bei Bei before he left for China https://nationalzoo.si.edu/

Well, I knew my daughter would love it, but I didn't realize it would turn into something that's so restorative for me. As wives, spouses, parents--we all do a lot for others. We make plans with others in mind; what will make them happy. 

I'd heard the idea of doing something "just for you" everyday. Well, that's not likely to happen when there's laundry, exercise, cooking, prepping for dance, driving to dance, waiting at dance, and (oh yeah) maybe some cleaning. It's easy for me to turn that into eating something "because I deserve it" or "it's been a tough day". Much less if I open a bottle of wine...

The National Zoo, if you haven't been there, is a big, long hill. Great for walking. Big cats at the bottom, pandas at the top, and my beloved elephants in between (along with a wolf, great apes, and so much more).

Amur tiger https://nationalzoo.si.edu/
Their habitat has so reduced, they're no longer
Siberian tigers as they only exist in the Amur River Valley. 

Seeing these precious animals every week is such a gift. I have two hours to walk and check in (they're starting to feel like my friends). I'm wondering if Coby the wolf recognizes me? Moki the two year old ape and his little kid antics. All of the seven amazing elephants--their keepers love them and are happy to share details of their unique personalities and quirks. 

Spike during elephant outpost demonstration https://nationalzoo.si.edu/
All of the elephants know a lot of actions necessary to check their health.
Spike was happy to show his foot on command (and some yummy food).

Today it's going to rain a lot. So to brighten my day and hopefully yours, I'm sharing a few of my photos.

Cirrus and Orion (alpacas) https://nationalzoo.si.edu/ My daughter is alpaca crazy right now.
She likes to point out that many of the llamas popular on clothes right now are actually alpacas. 

Rose (standing), Willow, and Maggie https://nationalzoo.si.edu/
at the Kids Farm (sometimes we can pet them).

What do you do (ever) that's just for you? Something that doesn't feel like an obligation. I know we all get a lot of joy from taking care of others, but it's really important to remember we deserve a little joy on a regular basis that's all ours.