10/31/10 Overeating Is A Pain...

Article coming soon.......


"No man in the world has more courage than the man who can stop after eating one peanut."  ~Channing Pollock


"Eat little, sleep sound."  ~Iranian Proverb


"No, I don't take soup.  You can't build a meal on a lake."  ~Elsie de Wolfe (Lady Mendl)


"The inventor of soda crackers has a place in hell."  ~Martin H. Fischer


"The more you eat, the less flavor; the less you eat, the more flavor."  ~Chinese Proverb


"Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon."  ~Doug Larson


"Gluttony is an emotional escape, a sign something is eating us."  ~Peter De Vries

Let's Go Sugar Free Today!!!

Hey Y'all,

Let's skip processed sugar today and see how we do.  Let me know if you make it okay and we'll build on it!  Processed foods like sugar are full of empty calories that give us little if any real benefit while wearing down your immune system.  Who's with me?

My Little T-Tapp Success Story

In case you are interested, here are my results and Essay regarding T-Tapp's 2010 60 Day Challenge.

Runner Up Winner Average to Lose + Health Category Karen C. http://www.t-tapp.com/challenge2010/winners/karenc/index.html Health Improvements: Celiac Disease in apparent remission Chronic foot pain seems to be obsolete Chronic bursitis hip pain is so much better because of T-Tapp Stamina and energy much better now. No More constant limping thanks to T-Tapp! Allergies manageable T-Tapp, an answer to prayer…. Oh how I’ve prayed to be pain–free! About eighteen years ago, while working as a flight attendant, a 300 lb metal beverage cart ran over my left foot accidentally. The impact caused the joint of my big toe to crack. It never healed correctly. The pain made me limp. Walking, running and standing caused me agony. Before I injured my foot, I ran and walked to stay in shape. I had two subsequent surgeries to help repair the damage to my joint and physical therapy to increase mobility, but nothing seemed to help. If I was on my feet for any length of time the pain was crippling and my limp worsened. As an international flight attendant, you can imagine how being on my feet is unavoidable. I took several years off of work and became fairly sedentary. Unfortunately, being sedentary added to my physical problems. Besides gaining weight, I developed bursitis in both of my hips. The doctor gave me stretches to do, but nothing seemed to help. I suffered in silence. Whenever I would sit for any extended period of time, my pain worsened. So now I not only had pain from standing on my feet, but from sitting as well. It seemed like I was destined to live a life in physical pain as well as have a constant limp. I can’t tell you how old this got for me. I wasn’t about to live my life laying down all the time. I was in my early forties when my dear friend Barbara told me about T-Tapp and how it might be easier for me to do with my foot and hip problems. I tried it and liked it. I stayed with it for a while and even entered the T-Tapp 60 Day Challenge in 2008, but got self-conscious about my photos and quit at the halfway point. 2008 proved to be a difficult year for my family in so many ways. That year we nearly lost our business of 25 years and had to let go of 2/3 of our wonderful employees. We also could no longer afford our beautiful home and were forced to put it on the market. We attempted to adopt a second child, but our home study expired before we could be chosen. Then, out of nowhere, both of my husband’s parents died within a week of each other right before Christmas. It was all so heart and gut wrenching. It was hard to believe that Mom & Pop were gone. Add on top of that us leaving the place we called home for many years. Our systems were shocked. I started eating poorly. My physical pain compounded my emotional pain. I tried to be strong for my husband and daughter and found myself turning to food for comfort instead of relying on my faith completely. Neither was I doing anything to take care of myself physically. My bursitis in my right hip seemed to heal itself, but my left hip worsened. I couldn’t sleep on that side or on my back anymore because of the pain. I started cortisone shots in December 2009 for my hip and then my foot as well. I had limited relief from these shots and needed to come back for more treatment. However, the shots were very expensive for us with our high insurance deductible so I stopped getting them earlier this year. Finally, after much prayer, I felt a tug in my heart and strength in my spirit to get healthy with the hope of one day leading others to better physical and spiritual health. I didn’t expect success overnight, but started my days in prayer and scripture looking for guidance. I examined addictive eating patterns and made serious changes in my diet. I knew I needed to do more than just eat right and remembered how T-Tapp was so effective and easy on my joints. When I started this T-Tapp 60 Day Challenge, I’d hoped to lose a little weight, strengthen my body and hopefully help with my chronic pain. I had no idea after 60 days that not only would I lose weight and inches, but also have more energy. Even when I work international all-nighter flights, I find that I bounce back more quickly from my trips than I used to. I also sleep better at night and have fewer allergy symptoms. A couple of big surprise results for me are how T-Tapp has improved my posture and positively affected me as a celiac. I’ve had rolled shoulders since I was a child from many years as a severe asthmatic. My asthma improved and I’ve been off all my asthma meds since I stopped eating animal products regularly five years ago, but my posture still reflected all those years of attacks. It’s much easier for me to stand up straight now! As far as being a celiac, I don’t tolerate gluten well. Usually if I have something with gluten in it like bread, pizza, etc, I’m awakened during the night with pain in my legs keeping me up the rest of the night. During the 4th of July weekend I indulged in bread and meat, but I had no celiac symptoms whatsoever. This was also the most meat I’ve had in nearly 5 years and that usually means almost instant weight gain for me because of my low metabolism. However, I’ve actually lost weight instead thanks to T-Tapp! And how has the T-Tapp 60 Day Challenge helped my chronic foot pain and hip bursitis? Well, after two months on this Challenge it is now obvious to my family and myself that I am no longer immobilized by my pain. I hardly even notice my left foot anymore! I have more mobility in my hip and have a much easier time getting up from a sitting position. Whatever pain I still have in my hip seems to work itself out more easily. I’m also not limping like I used to! I am even sleeping on my back and left side again! I seem to get healthier and stronger every day. Thank you T-Tapp! I asked both my husband and daughter to share what differences they’ve seen in me over the past 60 days. My husband says I’m more energetic and have better posture. He’s also noticed how I get up early nearly every morning to make him smoothies and read the Bible together. He adds that I cook more, bounce back from trips better, limp less, and have fewer rolls around my sides and my shoulders look sexier. He also says without a doubt that if it weren’t for T-Tapp I wouldn’t have been in the waves at the beach boogie boarding with our nine year old daughter for hours on end like I did a couple weeks ago! As far as my daughter’s observance goes, she asked if it was okay to say that I look skinnier. She also added that I limp less and eat less too! So although this essay is longer than I intended, hopefully it accurately covers the many blessings T-Tapp has given my family and I. No longer are my days chained to pain and immobility. I’m standing straighter and taller and feeling stronger every day. No longer do I feel like my body is aging prematurely. In fact I feel younger. I chose to do the Basic Work-Out Plus because it worked best for my lifestyle and fitness level. I could do the exercises whenever and wherever I might be in the world with my job as an international flight attendant. I’ve T-Tapped in each of my hotel rooms across Europe and Great Britain as well as the airplane galley. Near the end of this Challenge I started increasing my workouts from once to twice a day as well as some occasional push-ups and bicep curls as I gained strength. So what’s next? More T-Tapp and healthy living! They go hand in hand!

10/11/10 Falling Into Idle Time

Well, Fall Break is in full swing for us and with it comes birthday parties, vacation, and idle time.  The least fun but easiest to accomplish is the idle time.  Oh dear what we do with those spare vacant moments of time!?  Hmmm.  Shall I exercise, find a cure for cancer, work on that Bible study or just sit here and eat left over birthday cake?  Choices, choices! Voilà!  I just ate an orange!  Oh the sense of accomplishment... even if I am still in my pajamas!

I've given myself quite the latitude in meal selections for myself and my family lately.  What am I doing?  No, chicken fingers with fries are not the new staple!  And I am supposedly a professed vegetarian sometime vegan?  Back on track we go kiddies!  Enough of the invisible calories and fat grams.  Enough idleness!  Time to wake-up!  So where does the time go during your breaks of life?  Is it unaccounted for?  Is it spent wisely?  I'm somewhere wading in the water of an uncertain current lately as if life were on hiatus.  I don't like the feeling of drifting though.  My house, my diet, and my family will easily reflect my "drifty-ness."  What would I prefer my surroundings reflect?  Perhaps they could reflect health, order, godliness and wholeness.

Okay so I just got up after that last sentence, walked over to the fridge, opened the door, looked in at the left over birthday cake and then shut it.  Phew!  That was close!  Let me go back to the thought of that orange I ate at the beginning of this article.  It was easy, light, refreshing and very orange.   There's no reason I can't make more "orange" choices throughout the day!  Don't oranges smell great too?  They continue their delightful aroma contribution after consumption by being put in the garbage disposal.  Ahhhh!

So, I wrote an article a little over a week ago about the slowing of our metabolisms after 40, but some how accidently metabolized that article shortly after writing it.  Couldn't retrieve it back no matter how hard I tried.  In essence I wrote that since our metabolism slows 5-7% every year after 40, it is of utmost importance that we choose what we consume and the activities we partake in carefully.  It's never been more important!  I'm 46, soon to be 47 so that means my metabolism is how much slower???? Oh, how sobering!  How much slower is your metabolism?

I just wish I didn't like food so much!  Last night we got a last minute invitation to join my sister-in-law and her husband at the International House Of Pancakes.  It was great to see them of course.  Anyway, although it was later in the evening, that didn't deter me from ordering a large ensemble of vegetarian crepes.  For good measure, I put the last two bites worth in a to-go-box.  Was it absolutely necessary to eat that much?  I dare say not!   I think it's safe to assume that I'm not the only one who overeats.  Why do we do that?  Why is food so important beyond it's simple sustenance capacities?  Oh the Psychology of it all!  We'll explore that another time!    

Well now it's time to get busy and move off of this chair and away from this computer.  Shall it be a walk to the fridge, a leap to the mailbox, laundry room or shower?  I think I will go about moving wisely and intentionally wherever I go.  If I do get that cake later, it will have to be with both eyes open and full intention or I might forget I even had it and go for another piece!  It could be worse, I could lament over it and still have another piece!  LOL!

8/04/10 Making Choices....

Okay, so I get to admit that I cheated and had a small piece of sausage today.  Now all my brain is thinking about is salty, fatty stuff.  No!  Stop the madness!!!

Doing well with T-Tapping and have recently joined the Y.  I have an evaluation type appointment at the Y tomorrow morning.  Gee, I hope I pass!  Hahaha!

Praying for the Lord to keep me centered and focused.  Prayed up on this particular scripture today:


‎"Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

I was feeling a little anxious again about our financial situation last night and this morning originally, but praying over this scripture really helped me a lot.  I'm thankful to know that the Lord has me in the palm of His hand!  I'm also thankful that He has provided me with my flight attendant job.  So glad I didn't quit when I was thinking about it previously!   As much as I miss my family when I'm working, I feel like I'm totally in God's will doing this right now.  I see Him using me too.

I do my best to bring God's joy and love to those around me wherever I am.  I just have to focus up and out away from my needs and personal comforts.  I find it a real blessing as I greet the passengers or serve them on the  plane.  I try to remember to pray for them as they board and throughout the flight.  Perhaps the Lord will use me in some little way to encourage their faith in Him.  I don't necessarily preach, but I'm always available if anyone has any spiritual questions, etc.  Last trip we had a flight attendant who was searching for God and very hungry for the Truth.  He approached us for Biblical understanding.  Last month during a flight to Spain, I got to share my scarf with an orthodox Jewish woman who couldn't find hers in her suitcase.  She wanted to be able to take her wig off for a while, but is not allowed to show her hair to anyone, but her husband.  On another trip we had a very outgoing orthodox Jewish young man who wanted to discuss faith with myself and a couple other Christian flight attendants.   Another orthodox Jewish man shared in some food with me.  On a flight to work I sat next to a young Sikh woman who spoke about faith and religion with me.  I never know how the Lord may use me each trip.  It can be rather exciting.

I see so much disdain, apathy and complacency at work amongst many crew members who probably should have quit long ago.  I pray that in some way I can be used to make a difference for them.  Unfortunately I've encountered some who are just completely covered in darkness flinching at any hint of light.  I keep praying and and looking upward and onward!  Use me Lord!

Be blessed and be a blessing.
-Karen

7/22/10 In The Groove And Gaining Momentum!!!

Well, I've been a little busy with work lately traveling a lot, but I just had to check in and share some encouraging and hopefully supportive news!  Since my last post, things seem to be continuing in the right direction health and weight wise.  I'm at the lowest weight I've been in a couple years and I'm having little if any celiac symptoms.  My bad foot and hip are doing better than ever too.  Not only am I feeling stronger, but my body's healthy shape is coming back!  Clothes look more flattering and I'm actually needing a belt to hold up most of my pants and shorts.  I'm not quite back into my size 10s, but getting closer!  Taking it one milestone at a time.

I'm also about to hit my make it or break it weight or what I also call my "VavavaVOOM Threshold."  That is a weight that if I go under it I start getting my natural curves back and if I go over it, I lose them and get a little out of proportion, especially in my waist and hips.  Does anyone else know what their VavavaVOOM Threshold is?  I don't mind sharing that mine at almost 5'8" is 155lbs.  Of course the lower I go toward 150 and under the more VavavaVOOM I look!  I could definitely afford to lose more weight than that, but at least I'm now tipping the scales in the right direction if you know what I mean!  Enjoying some yummy juices lately, soups and fish.  I've been getting into grilling or lightly frying up salmon burgers and tilapia.  YUM!  I buy mine at ALDI for a  reasonable price.  Still doing the morning blended salad smoothie thing that is a great way to get, vitamin C, fiber and some extra iron.  YES!

Oh!  I also must share with you that I'm now able to allow myself a dessert occasionally without going overboard and craving more sugar.  Another huge milestone for me!  Woohoo!!!

I can also honestly say that T-Tapping is as natural for me me now as getting dressed.  It's a natural part of my day.  I do the T-Tapp 15 minute Work-out Plus twice a day 5 to 7 days straight with one and a half days off in between.  This is what seems to be working most effectively for me.

Here's hoping that everyone else is doing well too or at least encouraged by how this gal is finally seeing the fruits of her labor!  With faith, prayer, determination and T-Tapp, it's all slowly coming together.  Hallelujah!

May we never lose sight of our priorities and goals in life like the One who makes all things possible!  May God always have all the glory!  Talk to you again before too long.  In the meantime, I'm off to Milano again one last time this month and then London a few times next month.  Bless you friends!

Satisfied in Christ
-Karen

7/11/10 Husband Tells Me I'm Back!

I can safely say I'm experiencing a new level of fitness and health!  I was feeling pretty discouraged, per my last couple entries, but I'm seeing the whole picture more clearly now!  I even ate many foods I usually don't eat like meat and bread over the 4th of July weekend.  I kept eating them during the following week too.  Even though it upset my stomach a little one day, I realized I wasn't having my celiac symptoms like I used to with the achy, painful legs after eating flour.  I have stopped the indulgent eating now and am back to being a vegetarian, but enjoyed the yummy food for what it was and while it lasted.  Been drinking a lot of green tea and water now.  I prepared myself for the addictive withdrawals afterward, but they were minimal.  I even braced myself for possible weight gain, but had none.  In fact, I lost weight and inches during that time!  I contribute that to my daily T-Tapp exercises.  I recently increased them to twice a day.  Last night my husband notice some new muscular definition in my arms.

One thing that has really started to hit home is how my foot and hip pain are improved.  A good example of the difference is last night after sitting in the theater for a couple hours.  Normally I would be so stiff and in pain getting out of the seat that it would be very difficult to stand and walk for a while.  Well, what little stiffness I had worked itself out quickly.  I'm not limping constantly like I used to from either sitting too long with this bursitis or standing too long on my bad left foot.  Last night (on our date night) while my husband and I were walking from our car to the restaurant together, he turned to me and said: "It's like having the old Karen back!"  He's right too.  It took me a while to see it though.  I still have my bursitis mind you, but my exercises are strengthening my muscles around my hip joints, etc making me stronger over all.  I'm enjoying this new level of health and fitness so much!

Another huge improvement is my energy level.  That sure comes in handy not only at home, but at work.   My jet lag is so much better now.  I can do so much more on my layovers as well.  I seem to bounce back fairly quickly from a work trip too now.

I'm getting stronger every day.  I know I'm supposed to take a day off of T-Tapp, but I just feel so much better when I do it.  I usually workout in the morning and at night.  I play it by ear of course.  If I've done a lot of other physical activity for the day or I'm exhausted by the time I'm ready for bed I'll skip the second workout.  Honestly, it's only 15 minutes per work-out!  It's not like I'm working out all day or something.  That's one of the things I love about these T-Tapp workouts!  I wish more of my friends would try it for themselves.  Got to be careful though or I'll sound like I'm trying to sell them something.  Maybe after they see the changes in my, they will give it a try.

Oh, I almost forgot!  I turned in my essay and final measurements for the 60-Day T-Tap Challenge!  I'm so pleased!  It may not be as much as others, but it's a personal best for me.  I lost a total of 15.375 inches in two months!  It was difficult to keep the essay short since there was so much improvent to cover, but hopefully I did the results justice.

Well it's time for another work-out and then getting ready for church.  I better go.  Just thought I'd check in and give you the latest.

Satisfied in Christ!

-Karen