tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6603778485866837002011-11-27T17:51:56.606-07:00life, type 2 diabetes, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, health, fitness, raw/whole food, southwest, writing....WHATEVERBjaynoreply@blogger.comBlogger481100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-23250031854841386142010-07-11T13:30:00.000-07:002010-07-11T13:30:00.738-07:00

Yesterday I got REALLY sore.  My thighs did not like going into or out of sitting position.    It was pretty bad.  Today I'm back to being just sore. If the cloudy weather holds out, tonight I'll do some intervals on the treadmill (my house gets really hot - gets over 85 degrees inside) and then start the 100/200/200 six week program tomorrow.  :D

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-14225836476058702002010-07-09T15:32:00.000-07:002010-07-09T15:32:23.872-07:00

SORE.  I'm not dying though.  See how I feel tomorrow.  If not too sore, I'll do more tomorrow. 

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-90074418367973666262010-07-09T01:26:00.001-07:002010-07-09T01:39:44.717-07:00

I am taking up challenges I found on the hundredpushups.com site. The site has programs to work up to performing 100 pushups, 200 squats, and 200 situps. It offers simple info, initial tests to determine where to start, 6-week workout plans that require three 10-minute weekly sessions per goal and more. There is an iPhone app...but alas I'm a Blackberry user.  It's okay because you can

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-7975477189856334382009-11-10T20:38:00.003-07:002009-11-10T20:46:20.461-07:00

This slide show is for my fresh new start. Sorry so long before posts, I'm over having a tantrum over my alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency diagnosis and back into a positive frame of mind. :) See it larger here: http://www.scrapblog.com/viewer/viewer.aspx?sbid=2327530

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-57761404874031743962009-07-29T19:04:00.004-07:002009-07-29T19:28:19.170-07:00

I had two disasters happen and 1 predicted challenge.First I went to a doctor check-up and mentioned that I didn't understand if I was eating raw food, why wasn't I losing weight faster. He asked what I was eating that was fatty, and I told him I ate nuts, seeds, and avocado. So the doctor told me he'd have his diabetes educator talk to me when I checked out at the front desk. Mind you, up

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-858917054574873562009-04-21T21:43:00.005-07:002009-04-21T21:54:38.384-07:00

Here is a video update...in a nutshell, I got sick and had something that resembled a stroke. Doctor has a feeling it wasn't, but getting tests anyway. He does not feel the diet or exercise caused it either - he thinks if anything they are helping and keeping away more serious complications. Then my sister calls me and informs me that she has been diagnosed with an incurable chronic disease -

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-9177121105210108882009-03-31T14:04:00.002-07:002009-03-31T14:14:12.325-07:00

Been exercising and planning my son's birthday party and dealing with all the unexpected stuff that pop up...so been really short on time lately. In addition to my cousin joining me when I workout at the park, his girlfriend and my sister have joined us. My son comes too. I have another friend with 4 kids...and they might all join us too. So pretty kewl. :) I'm not superwoman yet...but I've

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-59020844007020375232009-03-23T23:32:00.003-07:002009-03-23T23:59:24.206-07:00

I'm still doing "mostly" raw. With the economic situation it gets tough...but been trying to be creative. I just discovered my local swap meet actually sells fruits, vegetables, and nuts at pretty good prices. They even claim it's organic. That would be kewl...but not sure if they just stick the stickers on regular produce haha. I got some stuff, even a few bags of acorns I plan to make some

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-91714645593855543082009-03-18T23:20:00.004-07:002009-03-18T23:38:25.051-07:00

Sorry I fell behind a couple days on blogging. I've been very busy starting up my new exercise program. I started the beginner Crossfit program - which in itself is very easy but I've decided to do some walking or jogging every day in an attempt to get off Glucophage. Yesterday I refilled less than a month's supply of Glucophage and got some new strips for my meter...$60!!!! WITH insurance.

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-24672566069391829422009-03-12T13:03:00.003-07:002009-03-12T13:07:16.126-07:00

We all know insulin is a hormone and escorts sugar into cells to be burned for energy. However, not everyone knows that insulin has multiple functions. Some that can make you fat or make it easier to gain/retain weight. Some of it's other functions: 1) Signals for carb cravings.2) Signals for fat to be retained and not be burned for energy.3) Forces fat cells to convert blood lipids to

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-76510063263816068402009-03-12T01:33:00.002-07:002009-03-12T01:49:39.039-07:00

I am very happy with my diet. I can live with "mostly" raw food. It makes me feel good and I allow myself leniency. My problem is that 1) I want to eat fruit, 2) I want to eat "regular" food occasionally, 3) I don't want to take the metformin anymore. How to do that? Exercise? So that's what I'm trying. I was inspired by Gayle and Graham who I've talked about in previous posts. Gayle is

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-20984296739378082322009-03-09T02:02:00.005-07:002009-03-09T02:06:38.333-07:00

Here is my latest Vlog, battling diabetes, pcos and weight with a "mostly" raw food diet and crossfit.

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-51557360623235606832009-03-06T19:40:00.002-07:002009-03-06T19:47:26.181-07:00

Groceries for three on a budget for four days. I am a 75% raw food diet eater, my 7-year-old son eats "normal" food, and my husband likes mostly vegetarian but won't eat poultry, is tired of fish, and hates cucumbers, cilantro and some other vegetables, haha. I gotta make 3 different meals sometimes! This is what I got for $105 (including a $10 can-opener - hubby broke the other one). I'm

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-7045353758523535052009-03-04T00:47:00.003-07:002009-03-06T14:33:17.395-07:00

Over a year ago I started to follow a girl named Gayle on YouTube. She was starting to do Alli pills like me.In her videos she was funny, bubbly, and would do crazy things. The first video I saw, she had done a little silly dance and then jumped fully-clothed into her swimming pool. I can't find that one. She must have deleted it. So I have to show you the second video I watched Gayle in:

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-81566140308566697292009-02-28T02:35:00.004-07:002009-02-28T03:26:06.942-07:00

Okay, it wasn't directly from him. And...I don't know if he was even aware of my email. BUT, it came from his company and contained a LaLannism customized just for me! Anybody who knows me knows that I love Jack LaLanne. Which is crazy because of course if he was younger...or I was older...and we both were not married...well, I would be too fat for him anyway, haha. It's like someone who

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-12071222534877017602009-02-28T01:08:00.003-07:002009-02-28T02:14:25.475-07:00

When I embraced the raw food diet, it was largely due to reading Dr. Gabriel Cousen's book which answered the question "is there a cure for diabetes" with, "There Is a Cure for Diabetes: The Tree of Life 21-Day+Program." I have a very dear friend who has lost 65+ pounds the past 3-4 months also due to this book. Like me, she was on a lot of medications and had dangerously high blood pressure.

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-80665330764491461422009-02-27T03:22:00.006-07:002009-02-27T04:22:55.207-07:00

Diabetic snacks are a great way to dabble with some simple raw foods. No I don't mean carrots with ranch dressing either. I mean tasty foods that pack a nutritional punch that are easy to prepare. GUACAMOLE - single serving*1 Ripe avocado - chopped*2 Tomato - diced*1 Green onion - sliced*1 Jalapeno, serrano pepper (optional and use less if preferred)- minced*1 small garlic clove. Use half if

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-71825236628028123572009-02-26T20:20:00.002-07:002009-02-26T20:29:03.311-07:00

I've been sick, so no update for the past couple days. I always get sick when the weather changes and the weather here in Tucson is CRAZY. One day we are freezing, a bitter wet cold. The next day we are almost 100 degrees fahrenheit! The other day we were the hottest in the whole country. Even Phoenix was at least 10 degrees cooler than us! We are about 20 degrees above average right now.

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-37847643988877132012009-02-24T21:42:00.016-07:002009-02-24T23:59:13.314-07:00

I eat a "mostly" raw food diet, and I have type 2 diabetes - so I can't get a lot of help from fruits yet. I've been trying to keep track of what I eat and trying to get my diet as complete as possible.This is what I ate today and the nutritional breakdown from Nutritiondata.com. Most of it is fantastic. The carb, fat, protein ratio is not where I would like it yet. The highest fat thing I

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-1885342935070449162009-02-24T21:32:00.004-07:002009-02-24T21:41:24.913-07:00

I forgot to have a party when my BMI went down. I really never gave it a lot of thought until today when I entered my weight into a BMI calculator. So I'm doing it now!WOOHOO! CHA-CHA-CHA-CHA, CHA-CHA!Here are the facts friend:My ideal weight is between 114.6 - 154.9. My ideal BMI is under 25At my highest I weighed 280. My BMI was 45.2 or extremely obese. I got down to 205 for many years.

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-1136714548416310802009-02-23T13:16:00.004-07:002009-02-23T13:53:16.184-07:00

A few years ago my dentist said I needed $3000 worth of work on my mouth. I had the beginnings of gingivitis, cavities, cracked teeth, etc. He scolded me for not getting my teeth cleaned for a couple years. When he poked around my mouth to make measurements for bone health, my gums bled. I would have thought detox in this area based on my diet was impossible. Research is showing a strong

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-27113961270127613792009-02-22T16:36:00.003-07:002009-03-06T14:34:14.103-07:00

I was surfing one day on YouTube and ran into Graham's channel. At that time he was a 500-pound Australian who gained popularity on YouTube running around in a mankini and giving free hugs. Who could help but love him!? Hey, I wanted a free hug too!I was pleasantly surprised to find he had subscribed to my channel and was interested in what I was doing. Wow! What an honor because he had

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-56364760172403808382009-02-21T20:01:00.004-07:002009-02-21T21:03:29.729-07:00

I created my website in 2001 as a result of being very dissatisfied with my pregnancy experience with gestational diabetes. I was scared. I felt alone. I had a really hard time finding information.When I made the site, I didn't think I would find many others like me, maybe a handful. Since then I've been overwhelmed not only with members and posts on the site but desperate emails sent to me

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-61918272012471169622009-02-21T13:40:00.003-07:002009-02-21T17:07:40.859-07:00

I'm "mostly raw" myself. I do eat meat once in a while, but I try to eat fish or free-range or wild grain-fed, no-hormone-added chicken or beef. Or I try to get organ meats like liver - those have lots of B12 and your body stores it so you don't need it often.I also get protein from nuts, seeds, and dark leafy greens - but it's a balancing act since I can't have nuts or seeds in large

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-11602095191841779972009-02-21T00:12:00.004-07:002009-02-21T00:39:23.227-07:00

I had to include this video. It fits very well with my previous post. Have I mentioned I'm in love with Jack LaLanne? haha Of course I'd never have the courage to meet him until I lost some more weight. lolFor more Jack LaLanne, check out his website: http://www.jacklalanne.com

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-62251713120315341992009-02-20T21:29:00.004-07:002009-02-20T23:03:22.565-07:00

Everyone has sugar cravings, but they seem magnified when you have type 2 diabetes - or at that's how it seems to me. I have managed to maintain my weight around 175 pounds after I lost 30 pounds in April - May of last year. This is a big accomplishment for me. I have lost weight before, but it came back quickly. I also had to exercise constantly or starve myself to keep it off. I am doing

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-17313108853462039672009-02-19T17:00:00.009-07:002009-02-19T17:48:48.326-07:00

Researchers at Tulane University have analyzed data from the well-known Nurses' Health Study from 1984 to 2002, that followed 18 years worth of diet and health info from 71,346 nurses.They have concluded that a diet that includes just one serving of dark leafy greens such as lettuce, kale, and spinach along with three servings of whole fruit a day reduce diabetes risk. Lydia Bazzano, an

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-43929321840741627982009-02-19T00:32:00.005-07:002009-02-19T01:30:53.177-07:00

I am of Mexican heritage along with a motley mix of other cultures which includes Native American ancestry, but I don't know which tribes.I do know my family has been here in southern Arizona for hundreds of years. The earliest written documentation I have found, has been family living in the Spanish presidios or forts. Because of this I pay a lot of attention to the tribes from this area. Not

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-91906773654867703662009-02-15T00:22:00.000-07:002009-02-15T00:23:38.206-07:00

I'm so glad you guys are interested in adding more raw foods. :) I am so excited with the talk in the forum and the emails I'm getting. I was surfing around today, and have been reading a lot. I realize the "raw food world" might be pretty confusing to new people. So I wanted to share share something with you. It's that there is no ONE raw food diet. There are high-fat raw food diets,

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-45428239763748070872009-02-13T17:22:00.002-07:002009-02-13T17:27:41.378-07:00

Here is my first update since re-committing to raw foods and green juice. Please subscribe to this blog to keep up-to-date! :) In short, I see a big difference in my skin. The inflammation on my face has gone way down and lumps and bumps have gone down as well.

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-64542600684603898012009-02-11T22:59:00.002-07:002009-02-11T23:04:07.350-07:00

This is the green juice I try to drink everyday. Diabetes-friendly juice recipes are hard to find, even for green juice. Good luck at juice bars - they are usually loaded with carrots.Anyway here it is.....

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-16687952578438043572009-02-07T17:16:00.000-07:002009-02-07T17:17:39.771-07:00

I wanted to post this video of "Mike." He describes himself and his wife as "2 OLD Surf Bums Gone bad.....Sad to see what happens when the old longboard ain't long enough anymore, when wax won't keep ya from slipping, when that water just seems a bit TOO COLD to bother with. Yep, OLD age......2 Cats, both fat and lazy. Crap, maybe we do look like our pets after all?"Mike doesn't have diabetes,

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-90979291510566761762009-02-07T13:09:00.001-07:002009-02-07T13:37:16.288-07:00

In my last post, I let you all know how I was able to use my little magic bullet blender in a pinch to blend up some spinach and water when I wasn't able to make my regular green juice. It worked GREAT for that. Yesterday I tried Kale. Big pieces of kale with stems in it. It didn't work so well. It couldn't chop it down fine enough. Perhaps if I had removed the stems. I'll have to try that

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-89726266498657450742009-02-05T01:00:00.004-07:002009-02-05T01:14:42.991-07:00

I just had to do it.I searched and wasn't able to find a place that was just for "Rawbetics" so I started one. Come talk to me if you have diabetes, pre-diabetes, or at high risk for diabetes and have been interested in raw food or or want to share your story.Join me!

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-37797353234783169652009-02-03T18:44:00.003-07:002009-02-03T19:12:06.270-07:00

Yesterday was a bear. I was totally off schedule, running behind, and out of my mind. :) It happens. All day long I kept feeling like I was forgetting something. Then about 9 pm I realized I hadn't had my green juice for the day. It was 9, my son had just gone to bed, I was tired, and my kitchen was a DISASTER. I've found if my dishes and counters aren't clean, it's not conducive to making

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-28259414624642332702009-02-03T18:23:00.004-07:002009-02-03T18:43:06.831-07:00

Q & AQuestion: Are there health benefits to the raw food diet? Answer: Hi! If you look around the web, YouTube, etc., you will find lots of awesome personal testimonials. For instance, I have type 2 diabetes and was on oral meds and insulin. After I did a 100% raw diet for two months, I lost 30 pounds and went off my meds. I saw liver spots go away, joint pain go away, my eyesight improve,

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-52299873907893952722009-02-01T18:32:00.009-07:002009-02-02T16:46:34.409-07:00

Chia seeds are an excellent food for people with diabetes and are popular with the raw food community. I live in southern Arizona and chia seeds have been an important food source for the indigenous people here. Many traditional foods are especially good at helping diabetes, and chia seeds are one of them. Here are some tradtional-style recipes to use Chia seeds. CHIA LEMONADE AGUA FRESCA (

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-62438219713196019442009-02-01T16:23:00.007-07:002009-02-01T18:31:32.651-07:00

I have diabetes, eat mostly raw food, and pay attention to what, when, and how the local indigenous people ate. It all naturally goes together. Why? I live in the southern Arizona desert. Home to the Tohono O'odham and Pima tribes--two tribes recognized for a severe diabetes epidemic. About 75% of those over 55 have obesity and diabetes. When these people were introduced to the standard

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-4209828510175277942009-01-31T18:52:00.008-07:002009-01-31T19:49:09.666-07:00

I came across this today surfing around the net on Dave Mendosa's site. He's a fantastic and well-respected source of diabetes information on the internet. His blog post is not an attack on raw food diets, he's writing about a study. In a nutshell he writes how some "raw food people" may not be entirely correct when they say raw food is better for you. I agree with this and don't. I Agree: I

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-14988605422996024162009-01-29T22:08:00.004-07:002009-01-29T22:16:11.809-07:00

On DiabetesConnect.com, someone posted a question about why insulin causes you to gain weight. I read it's because it signals for fat retention and carb cravings. However, it reminded me I had a similar problem with metformin - my oral diabetes medicine. When I did the green juice and was eating 100% raw, my carb cravings went completely away. I mean, I looked at a hamburger bun, a roll, a

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-88464411817186921142009-01-28T21:39:00.005-07:002009-02-01T20:37:18.773-07:00

Here is the basic formula I use for my green juice now: Makes about 1 quart1 small bunch or 1/2 large bunch celery1 cucumber1/4 - 1/2 pound dark leafy greens (kale, collards, swiss chard, spinach)1 cup of water1 apple (optional for flavor)juice of a lemon or lime (optional for flavor)a small piece of ginger (optional I like the smell and makes me happy)I use a blender. I put this stuff into the

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-4472768412388299672009-01-27T18:18:00.004-07:002009-01-27T18:57:26.307-07:00

I made a video showing my pics before raw food, after raw food, and also showing how I look now. I weigh the same but there is definately something different. So I have re-committed to raw food and this first vlog is a documentation of my journey and where I am now. If you would like get updates to my vlog, subscribe to my channel on YouTube and or subscribe to this blog: http://www.youtube.com

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-40845308945503433812009-01-26T23:03:00.006-07:002009-01-26T23:25:49.143-07:00

Okay, I survived the holidays without gaining weight. I actually ate normal Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners and goodies. I had re-started my metformin because I wanted to eat fruit dammit. :) I don't like the side effects...hopefully I'll be able to quit it if I lose more weight.So my weight is pretty stable between 170-175. My percentage of raw food went down. I was probably was eating

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-70544287254893297812008-09-22T12:54:00.004-07:002009-01-26T22:57:27.451-07:00

Green juice makes a HUGE difference!I stopped doing so much juice and was eating more raw. I was feeling pretty tired and I was getting REALLY haggard looking. I was looking like I was 50 (about to turn 40).The whites of my eyes were not bright, more of a gray. My skin was looking pretty saggy and dull. The glow was absolutely gone.I've been reading "Beautiful on Raw" by Tonya Zavasta. In

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-88468647432433899072008-08-14T13:45:00.005-07:002009-01-26T22:59:29.621-07:00

After the juice feasting I did 100% raw for a few weeks. Then I took it to 80% cause I had to halt the weight loss now I'm just "mostly" raw.Right now I'm in a holding pattern. I still have another 20 to go for my goal weight.I just try to make sure the majority of what I eat is raw veggies. If I go out or find myself short on time or having to buy something in a rush, I stick with a modified

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-4790371422227197082008-08-14T12:46:00.003-07:002009-01-26T22:55:36.167-07:00

I juice feasted for 30 days and lost 20 pounds juicing and then another 10 eating mostly raw. I had to stop because I was losing weight too fast. I knew if you lost weight fast and shocked your system, you could temporarily lose hair and could take it about 8 months to regrow again. Well I was too late to save myself from the shock (will discuss this in a later post).I would post a pic...but

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-58706015464095174252008-04-25T04:36:00.000-07:002009-01-26T22:57:02.831-07:00

As the editor of DiabeticMommy.com, I try to keep up on all the latest treatments, products, discoveries on the diabetes landscape.I do what I'm told - follow a diabetes diet, take my medications, check my levels, and try to keep my blood sugar values in the accepted range. I have had diabetes for 15 years and for 15 years have had no serious complications from diabetes (knock on wood).However,

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660377848586683700.post-79784140746587161752008-04-20T03:28:00.017-07:002009-01-26T23:02:54.267-07:00

Hello!I am currently Juice Feasting...and am on my 11th day now. I'll post later about the details and WHY the hec I'm doing this .Right now I want to go ahead and get to the kewl stuff - pics! I'm already feeling and seeing huge differences. I've lost 10 pounds. It's not really apparent on my body, and I don't hear lots of people saying they think I've lost weight, but I really see the

Bjaynoreply@blogger.com6