the weight loss papers

As I mentioned in the post on candida, I planned to try the suggestions made by the article I read and then Steve from Gold Flax Seed posted a tip in the comments about flax seed so I think I’ll try that as well. I do take an Omega 3 fish oil supplement already but I’m wondering if I should up that dosage or just add the flax seed. Will research that.

I generally eat Bob’s Red Mill’s 7-Grain Cereal for breakfast and it does already have some flax seed in it. I could likely add a bit more - a tablespoon, perhaps? - and that would increase the Omega 3 also.

As for the veggie juice, I’ve been drinking about 3 glasses a day for the past few days of the Isagenix HealthyGreens. It’s got kind of a licorice flavor which is ok but it can be overwhelming sometimes. Still not real sure if it’s helping yet. I’m sure it’ll take the full 10 days that is recommended in the info I found last week.

Also been eating/drinking tomato soup prepared with water. It’s also an Isagenix product that I had sitting around. It doesn’t taste that great so I only mix in one scoop instead of two as directed but it does taste considerably better that way. Add a little cayanne pepper for an added kick.

Speaking of cayenne pepper - have you ever followed the lemon juice cleanse? I don’t, but I do drink the lemon juice (using the recipe in the Detox Diet by Elson Hass) with a bit of cayenne once a day. It actually tastes pretty good.

If you have followed the cleanse, let me know what you think of it and if it helped you any. I’ve heard mixed responses.

Til next time,

~ Annie

Tags: candida, cleanse, veggie juice

Spring is my favorite time of year. Everything is beginning to grow, the sun starts shining a little more often and of course, days get longer. It means I can get outside more. Sometimes being stuck inside due to bad weather all winter is mighty draining. I welcome Spring with open arms!

Today it’s relatively nice here in the Pacific Northwest, albeit a little cold. At least the sun is out. Walking when the sun is out and the air is a bit chilly is refreshing. I walked twice day, as usual. Once this morning to take my kids to school and then again to pick them up this afternoon.

I still have not gotten back to the strength training, though. The last time we all got sick back in February, it really just took a lot out of me and then the time change a few weeks later didn’t help any. The time change always royally screws with my inner clock and although I can usually shake it off within a few days, I haven’t been so lucky this year. But as soon as I can get to back it without causing any adverse health effects for myself, I plan to do so. Hopefully it’s sooner than later.

Anyway, I’m still not seeing much effects from the veggie juice yet. Today I haven’t followed the suggestions all that well - I had a pita sandwich with spinach and chicken for lunch. I must say, though, that my nose doesn’t seem quite as stuffy as it has been for the last several weeks and I can smell better. Maybe it’s having some success? I’ll keep trying it and find out.

Hope you’re enjoying your day!

~ Annie

Tags: food, spring, veggies, weather

I mentioned Saturday that I planned to follow the suggestions in the article about candida. So, I actually started following it Saturday and so far, so good. Haven’t noticed much yet but since it’s only been basically two days and not even quite three this morning, I won’t complain.

I have some healthy greens that you mix with water. They’re Isagenix and even though I don’t do Isagenix anymore, really (at least not the shakes), I still have some products and I do continue to use a few things (like the healthy greens and fruits). I just didn’t like the shakes after a while and had to stop using them. It got the point that the stuff just made me gag.

Aside from following the eating suggestions, I’m continuing the exercise - walking every day about 3 miles and will start strength training daily again here soon. With everyone being sick off and on for the past few weeks, I haven’t had much time (or inclination) to use the weight machine regularly.

So, that’s it for me. How are you doing and what’s your plan for this week? Post in the comments or feel free to write a post on your blog and link back here if you’d like.

Talk soon,

~ Annie

Tags: exercise, ideas, plan, week

I got an interesting email yesterday about candida and how it can cause problems with losing weight. I have heard of candida causing such issues before but this article really got me thinking about my own weight loss issues over the past several years and I think perhaps candida overgrowth could be a major contributor.

Now, I haven’t asked permission from the author, so I’m not going to quote his article or anything but I will paraphrase what he recommends if you think you could have this problem. Recognize that I am not an expert and if you choose to follow these suggestions, you do so at your own risk with no warranty of any kind from me. I have not (yet) tried these suggestions, however, I will be in the coming days and will report any progress here.

So . . . the first thing that is suggested is that you do a cleanse to rid your body of the candida and get it functioning again. He recommends a vegetable juice cleanse of fresh, juiced veggies and says this should be done for at least 10 days and a maximum of 30. If it’s difficult for you to do nothing but fresh squeezed veggie juice every day, try 2-3 times a day and eating normally the rest of the day.

It’s also recommended to stay away from all sugars including honey, fructose, molasses and such and especially to stay away from foods like cakes, candies, sodas, fruit juices and the like. He does say using Stevia is ok.

You should also avoid white starch foods like white bread, cakes, white pasta, white rice, potatoes and etc. Whole grain flour is ok in moderation as is brown or wild rice and whole grain pasta.

He recommends no dairy products, though eggs are fine. Which actually makes sense because whomever said eggs were dairy products in the first place, must not know much about animals.

Then he says to increase your essential oils like omega-3. You can use fish oil, flax seed oil, borage or evening primrose. I used fish oil and flax seed myself though I have to be careful with the flax seed as it tends to upset my stomache. One tablespoon or 3 capsules daily is the suggestion.

Also increase your acidophilus intake or add it to your diet if you’re not taking it. He says to use it both after breakfast and dinner daily. Now, one can find these in good yogurt which is what I usually do but since that’s dairy, I guess I’ll have to get some supplements or something. Although I heard elsewhere that yogurt is ok in moderation as long as it does contain the probiotics and live cultures. So, it’s a toss up, I guess.

Anyway, I look forward to seeing how this works for me. If you try it, let me know how it goes.

~ Annie

Tags: diet, food, health

I mentioned my 10-grain (or 7-grain works too) bread recipe a few posts back and haven’t had a chance to post it yet so here goes!

Add everything to the bread machine as follows:

• 3 3/4 cups Whole wheat flour
• 2 teaspoons Salt
• 2 tablespoons Dry milk powder (I have omitted this successfully)
• 3/8 cup 10-grain cereal
• 2 tablespoons Molasses
• 13 1/2 fluid oz Water
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Dry yeast

I use the whole wheat setting on my machine. I am not sure what size loaf this makes because my machine doesn’t have that option but it’s fairly big and quite a heavy loaf. I suggest taking it out of the bread pan as soon as your machine is finished so the crust doesn’t get too crispy as it tends to crips fairly quickly and can become quite hard if it sits in there too long.

I have also added 1 cup of unsweetened applesauce to this recipe with tasty results.

Hope you enjoy! If you make it, let me know how it turns out and what you thought of it.

~ Annie

Tags: cooking, food, recipes