Carbohydrate Curves... An Informative Breakdown on Carbs

I am not a Doctor, or a Health Practitioner, but I read a lot of health information, and some of my dearest friends are health coaches and nutritionists.

This information is from "marksdailyapple.com" - a site full of information on the Paleo Lifestyle.(I'm not a true believer in the Paleo or Caveman eating plan for various reasons, but that's another blog)

“Primal Blueprint Carbohydrate Curve.” These are not my words - I read it - and found it very informative, and wanted to share. There are many misleading recommendations by the USDA - and "labeling" is also one of my pet peeves. (For example - the "recommended daily %" on the labels? This is for a 2000 calorie per day diet - which is not ideal for many.)

I digress...
More about the carbs....

He sees carb intake as a "curve"... ranging from "allowable” to “desirable” to “unhealthy”.

Have a read, and take what you like from this. What I took from it? Yes, we need carbs - but not a whole whack of them...I am sure the majority of my "curves", came from "carbs", so, this chart will help inform my carb choices somewhat, going forward. (as always, talk to your own Doctor if you have concerns or questions...)

300 or more grams/day - Danger Zone! Easy to reach with the “normal” American diet (cereals, pasta, rice, bread, waffles, pancakes, muffins, soft drinks, packaged snacks, sweets, desserts). High risk of excess fat storage, inflammation, increased disease markers including Metabolic Syndrome or diabetes. Sharp reduction of grains and other processed carbs is critical unless you are on the “chronic cardio” treadmill (which has its own major drawbacks).

150-300 grams/day – Steady, Insidious Weight Gain Continued higher insulin-stimulating effect prevents efficient fat burning and contributes to widespread chronic disease conditions. This range – irresponsibly recommended by the USDA and other diet authorities – can lead to the statistical US average gain of 1.5 pounds of fat per year for forty years. (WOW - just sayin')

100-150 grams/day – Maintenance Range This range is based on body weight and activity level. When combined with exercise, allows for genetically optimal fat burning and muscle development. (when at goal)

50-100 grams/day – Sweet Spot for Effortless Weight Loss Minimizes insulin production and ramps up fat metabolism. By meeting average daily protein requirements (.7 – 1 gram per pound of lean bodyweight formula), eating nutritious vegetables and fruits (easy to stay in 50-100 gram range, even with generous servings), and staying satisfied with delicious high fat foods (meat, fish, eggs, nuts, seeds), you can lose one to two pounds of body fat per week and then keep it off forever by eating in the maintenance range.

0-50 grams/day – Ketosis and Accelerated Fat Burning Acceptable for a day or two of Intermittent Fasting towards aggressive weight loss efforts, provided adequate protein, fat and supplements are consumed otherwise. May be ideal for many diabetics. Not necessarily recommended as a long-term practice for otherwise healthy people due to resultant deprivation of high nutrient value vegetables and fruits.

What are your thoughts on reducing carb intake, and this information in general?

A Re- Do on a Little Telephone Table

This little end table sat in my childhood home for decades.  It was fondly referred to as "the telephone table".  Yes, the telephone sat on it (remember those?).

But, it's main purpose, was the central communication hub!

The top drawer held the notepads, and pencils and pens to use when you went out somewhere, 

Heaven forbid, you didn't leave a note when you left.. 

This was also where notes for potential callers were left...i.e. "If so, and so calls - I'm at this location" or, "I'll be back at 5"

The bottom drawer held the phone books, and a dust cloth or two...

When mom moved to her new residence, I scored the "telephone table". 

It sat in the basement, it sat in the spare room, it sat in the living room, back to the basement again... 

Then a friend refinished a little table with chalk paint recently - so I thought HEY... I'm going to give the telephone table some new life...

So here it is...

To enjoy for another few decades perhaps?

The Things You Find on Kijiji #3

I have been on the hunt for a hutch for my dining room (to refinish, or paint, re-tweak...) and I came across this photo.  

It makes me chuckle when people list things for a decent dollar, and they don't take the time to spruce it up...even a little bit?

Seriously..

If you are interested in this "junk holder" for $300.00

- visit Kijiji and search for
Ad ID 1042536237

Not one more minute please

6:00 am at the emergency room with partner...recurrence of stomach pain...

Woman across the hall coughing incessantly. ...nurse puts her on oxygen for ten
More coughing. ..

7:15 am Gentleman coughing up a lung kitty corner to our vestibule. ..not sure if its from smoking or a cold...

Woman complains to nurse that she forgot about her...not so

8:45 am Gentleman arrives by ambulance...bleeding...distressed, on oxygen and is, to be blunt. ..obese...i look over and catch a glimpse of his feet. They are engorged. ..and quite frankly. .blue.

More coughing,  and vomiting

Another ambulance. ...hernia issues. ..he is  lethargic, not well.

Woman on oxygen is coughing...Gentleman continues to cough up a lung. ..

900 am ...Partners blood work back...amalyase count elevated. ..ultrasound scheduled for 930.

Coughing from three or more v estibules...where are the face masks?

1015 am back from ultrasound. ...waiting... More moaning,  coughing,  and distress from surrounding cells.

Bells and alarms sounding....
There are many nurses...a Dr. or two...a resident.  And they are all busy.

Partner sleeping. ..morphine is quite effective apparently.

More coughing,  hacking, and moaning.

The obese blue footed gentlemen  is whisked away...somewhere down the hall, through the ominous doors. .. wishing him well.

More coughing. ...

4 technicians are obsessively cleaning room 13 (where the blue footed gentlemen was) good to know

The only good thing about this is that all the "inmates" seem to be here for a reason. ..and i know that i dont want to be here for one more minute.

Take care of yourself people.

The Things You Find on Kijiji #2

Glancing around for a couch for a friend and I came across this ad.

Seriously? Are you selling the kids and toys? or the furniture!?
Cute kids, but I'm not in the market. Interested in the couch and chairs? Go to Kijiji and look for Ad ID 1003106384

Some people need lessons in Marketing...

Makes Scents

Love this idea to sprinkle a scent

Elbow Grease is FREE!

Here is a sad little kitchen that was thrown together with not much thought. There is cluttter on the counter and on the fridge (oh those dratted fridge magnets!), coloured tea lights on the dividing wall and "spice bottles" on the stove hood! The dining table is squished up against the wall to make more room for a freezer.


Now, keeping in mind this is a rental unit, most people don't want to put much into decorating; totally understandable. Also this is a lower level apartment that is a bit dated (white appliances, brassy hardware, tulip shade light fixture) but the size is good and the appliances are quite decent. Sometimes if you speak to your landlord and ask him if you can make some changes, they are quite keen! Especially if you are DIYing it. You are not doing any harm, in fact you are increasing the value of his property and at the same time increasing the satisfaction value to you! Which is important to your well being and comfort. Go ahead and ask them - the worse thing that can happen is they say "no". In which case, make changes that you can "take with you".

Making it cozy!
Change up the hardware, tidy up the counters, bring in your nice dining set a coat of paint and a few shelves with some nice simple pieces and voila; a warm friendly kitchen that makes you want to sit and have a good chin wag over coffee!
Another dark shelf was added over the sink to hold a small pot and painting. The light fixture was also updated.
Total cost? About $160.00 ($75.00 for hardware, $35.00 for shelves, $30.00 for paint, $20.00 for light fixture) and no charge for elbow grease to clean and shine everything spotless! (well, we did have a bottle or two of wine during the fluffing!)
Don't forget to colour coordinate when possible... red gives the space a bit of a pop, as well as warmth and harmony to an otherwise dreary space.

All the World is a Stage

Yes, the world is a stage, however for some of us our homes are our worlds!
Our homes are where we laugh, we entertain, we cry, where we live our lives.

We want to feel comfortable in our homes; why not bring out some of your personality into your space.

We dont have to be Candice Olsen, Eric McClelland or Brian Gluckstein with pods of money to throw into your space... you can design on a dollar or two with amazing results... use and re use your lovely things you already own!

Just move them around, paint, reconfigure - "change the set" and put your home "on stage"!

I'm combining my "On Stage" blog with this one for ease of use - I hope to give you some creative ideas that will only cost a few dollars to transform your space into something unique and enjoyable that will be within your budget.

We will try and focus on helping those that are selling their homes and want it looking "just so" for potential buyers.

Follow me; and send me your comments, ideas and suggestions

Too White? or Just Right?

What do you think of this living room?  Is it just right? or is it too white?

Photo: Ron Royals; Designer: Lisa Sherry

Wal-mart called, your photos are in...Seriously!

These can't be for real! Can they?

http://distractify.com/people/the-whitest-holiday-photos/

My Bucket List (Bucket Book)

Words of Advice 

1. Don’t try to write it all at once. It is an evolution..a working document.
2. Think outside the box. Think random - you have a lifetime to fulfil these goals!
3. Target different areas of your life. Travel, hobbies, finances, careers, relationships, activities, these are all great things to consider when building out a lifetime list. 
4. Break it into two items.  I want to learn to Tango - Do the Tango in Argentina! Having a purpose for the locations you want to travel to can make your trip that much more fulfilling when you actually accomplish it.
5. Read other people’s lists. (43things, Project 183, Sean Ogle's blog)
6. Choose easy, cheaper,goals - it will give you a sense of accomplishment
7. Include something you can do TODAY. Don't think "some-day" - think "today" There are plenty of things you can do right now that you have always said you wanted to do, but just never made the time to start.  Well now is that time.
8. Post it publicly. Do a blog!
9. Set goals. i.e. do 5 things per year, or everything by the time you are 50.
10. Use both broad and targeted goals.i.e go to NYC - "do something newsworthy"

Have fun! The whole idea is to start making steps to do the things you want to do with your life. So don’t stress about it - if you are finding it hard to accomplish a particular goal, work on something else!  

You do have some time...but best to start today!

Thank you Sean Ogle for these tips - my "Bucket Book" is in the works! http://www.seanogle.com/ 

Between Jupiter and Mars - Season 1, Episode 1 (+playlist)

My old friend Rob Bruner has a new web series out!  Watch and share! It's awesome!

Travel Quotes

We travel, initially, to lose ourselves; and we travel, next to find ourselves. We travel to open our hearts and eyes and learn more about the world than our newspapers will accommodate. We travel to bring what little we can, in our ignorance and knowledge, to those parts of the globe whose riches are differently dispersed. And we travel, in essence, to become young fools again- to slow time down and get taken in, and fall in love once more... Pico Iyer

"I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move."  Robert Louis Stevenson

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

“Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Not all those who wander are lost.” – J. R. R. Tolkien

“The open road is a beckoning, a strangeness, a place where a man can lose himself.” – William Least Heat Moon

“Travel only with thy equals or thy betters; if there are none, travel alone.” – The Dhammapada

Reminder to those Looters from the UK last year

Just a reminder to all the looters that grabbed electronics in the UK riots last year...your manufacturers warranty runs out at the end of this month...just sayin'

A Lesson Learned

From Melissa M.H. in Angola Indiana.

This story brought tears to my eyes - Although my kids are considerate and thankful most times - I'm sure they would have benefited even more so with a lesson like this...
_____________________________________________________________

Two Christmas's ago my then 12 yr old son made a very rude and hurtful comment about a gift he had received. It wasn't the exact one he wanted, so as calmly as I could I quietly took the gift (still in its box) and set it aside. 

About an hour later he went to play with it. I immediately stopped him and explained to him how very, very fortunate he was. And how his comment had hurt my feelings. 

As he started to apologize and back pedal-I told him how much I appreciated his apology, however, he would not be getting this gift and that one of two things were going to happen; either he was going to think about all of his classmates/friends/church family etc., and HE could choose whom he thought would not normally get such a gift and give it to them OR I would make the decision-but either way, he was not keeping it.

He threw a fit, cried and carried on, which I completely ignored even though this situation was breaking my heart.

A few hours had gone by, when I noticed my son sitting on the floor carefully re-wrapping the gift. 
I sat down next to him and watched as he concentrated on getting it just right. When he was finished he looked up at me and said "Jack's" dad doesn't have a job anymore so they probably didn't get very many toys, can we please take this to him right now?

I privately called "Jack's" mother to explain the situation to make sure it was "ok"- the last thing I wanted to do was offend anybody. 

My son was silent the entire ride there and the entire ride back. I started to wonder if I had done the right thing! But as we pulled the car into the garage he said "mom I'm sorry". I gave him the biggest hug you could imagine, kissed his forehead and told him how proud I was of him!

And every Christmas since then he has either picked one of his gifts or saved his money and bought one, to give to someone he chooses!

All parents and parents "to be" should put this in their box of life lessons...

Weekly Photo Challenge: Escape

Looking forward to escaping winter in Kawartha Lakes
Happy Victoria Day long weekend Canada....

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/05/17/photo-challenge-escape/

The Tomato Guard Dog

Really Mom, I'm guarding them...I'm not eating them...honestly!

It's Not All About You....

Change the way you think about adulthood.

An amazing commencement speech by the late, great David Foster Wallace at Kenyon College

http://www.upworthy.com/the-earth-shatteringly-amazing-speech-that-ll-change-the-way-you-think-about-adulthood-4

Enjoy this...

Memories For Sale

On a weekend road trip, far away from home, you stumble upon a garage sale in a neighborhood you’re passing through. Astonished, you find an object among the belongings for sale that you recognize. 

Tell us about it in the comments! 

My story is the first comment...enjoy.

My Manifesto

I read a friends blog this morning and one of her comments about people that seem to have "arrived" at their weight loss destination made me think of my "most favourite poem in the world" I found this poem in the early 80's and it stuck with me throughout my life...my Manifesto so to speak!

THE STATION R.J. Hastings

Tucked away in our subconscious minds is an idyllic vision. We see ourselves on a long, long trip that almost spans the continent. We're traveling by passenger train, and out the windows we drink in the passing scene of cars on nearby highways, of children waving at a crossing, of cattle grazing on a distant hillside, of smoke pouring from a power plant, of row upon row of corn and wheat, of flatlands and valleys, of mountains and rolling hillsides, of city skylines and village halls, of biting winter and blazing summer and cavorting spring and docile fall.


But uppermost in our minds is the final destination. On a certain day at a certain hour we will pull into the station. There will be bands playing and flags waving. And once we get there so many wonderful dreams will come true. So many wishes will be fulfilled and so many pieces of our lives finally will be neatly fitted together like a completed jigsaw puzzle. How restlessly we pace the aisles, damming the minutes for loitering, waiting, waiting, waiting for the station.


However, sooner or later we must realize there is no one station, no one place to arrive at once and for all. The true joy of life is the trip. The station is only a dream. It constantly outdistances us.

When we get to the station that will be it!" we cry. Translated it means, "When I'm 18 that will be it! When I buy a new 450 SL Mercedes Benz, that will be it! When I put the last kid through college that will be it! When I have paid off the mortgage that will be it! When I win a promotion that will be it! When I lose that 50 lbs that will be it. When I reach the age of retirement that will be it! I shall live happily ever after!"


Unfortunately, once we get "it," then "it" disappears. The station somehow hides itself at the end of an endless track.


"Relish the moment" is a good motto, especially when coupled with Psalm 118:24: "This is the day which the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it." It isn't the burdens of today that drive men mad. Rather, it is regret over yesterday or fear of tomorrow. Regret and fear are twin thieves who would rob us of today.

So, stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles (or the lbs). Instead, climb more mountains, eat more ice cream, (just track it!) go barefoot more often, swim more rivers, watch more sunsets, laugh more and cry less. Life must be lived as we go along.

The station will come soon enough.

Happy to have been reminded of this awesome poem - I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did 30 years ago!




Happy Family Day Weekend!