The Ups and Downs of Life

So, why is it that all the things I want to go up go down? My stock investments, my time with my husband, my salary, my husband's salary, my energy, even my interest in life? The only thing going up is my weight. Granted, it hasn't gone up as much as it could, but still, you'd think it would follow the downward spiral that is my life right now.
I am really trying to be positive and focused, but there's always so much crap to deal with. Stuff to do, stuff I didn't get done, stuff I wish I could do. It's this mind trip. I "can't" do this, I "can't" do that. . . Have I always been this defeatist, or is this a new trend? I don't know. All I know is that I'm flippin' tired. Something's gotta change. And I'm the only one who can change it.

Yumzadoodle

I have decided to go totally gluten free. My husband, Timothy, has been roughly 98% Gluten Free since 2004 when he was told he was "gluten intolerant". Since then, he has learned he has Celiac's disease. I have been studying up on it, and it is rather scary, at least what can happen if you don't follow the diet. So, in the interest of keeping us both healthier, I am going to eat gluten free as well.
Tonight, I found a recipe on Gluten Free Mommy for Devil's Food Cupcakes. Naturally, I tweaked it. I made it sugar free and used half WonderCocoa to make it less caffeine (which can spike blood sugar).
The cupcakes came out very well and received an 8 out of 10 from my husband. Tomorrow, I am going to work on some type of frosting. . . . we'll see if we can get it to a 10.
If you want to find out more information about Gluten Free Eating or Celiacs, Gluten Free Mommy is a great resource.
Also, if you want to check out the cupcake recipe I used, the link is below.

http://glutenfreemommy.com/the-un-birthday-cupcakes/

Read the Bottle, Dummy!

Yesterday, I woke up feeling like it was going to be a great day. I slept in, then took a new supplement I haven't taken before (so I thought). I then proceeded to eat some carrots and some string cheese.
I started feeling really bad pretty quickly after I had eaten. It took me quite a while to realize that I had taken a blood sugar lowering supplement on accident and then eaten practically nothing. I actually gave myself a low blood sugar - not fun.
So, lesson learned. Read the bottle before you swallow the pill.
Yikes.

Cookies! Cookies! Cookies!

This weekend, I made delicious chocolate chip cookies with my new "goodies". While I cannot yet label them as "healthy", they are a step in the right direction.
My lovely stepmother, Marie, has been an inspiration to me in the weight loss arena, as in many others. I am adopting one of her philosphies for at least the beginning part of my weight loss journey. I know that I will not be able to stop emotional eating "cold turkey", so I will make healthier versions of my favorite comfort foods to help me through my current stressors. Marie has always been great at finding healthier versions of treats for herself and my father, so cheers, guys!

I used some of the sweet potato flour and the Whey Low Gold to make my cookies and wow! what a result - gluten free, almost sugar free cookies, am I dreaming? I used 65% cocoa chips, which are lower sugar and possess greater antioxidant content than your average semi-sweet chip. The sweet potato flour is high in carbs which is why I also used some other gluten free flours. The cookies passed the husband test with flying colors, even my chiropractor loved them!

So, since I can never leave a recipe alone, next time, here's the plan. Make 'em lower fat and experiment with making my own chocolate chips (couldn't find any sugar free). I think I may add some Agave nectar and grapeseed oil next time in place of some of the Whey Low Gold and butter.
Below is the website that talks about Whey Low, you can purchase it at this link as well, but I found it for less on amazon.com. I used only Whey Low Gold, and it worked just like brown sugar- A+ from me.

http://www.wheylow.com/

The link below is a blog from the Diabetes blog written by Allie Beatty about Whey Low, there is also a product called Whey Low D, which has an even lower glycemic index than Whey Low or Whey Low Gold and is great for Type 1 and 2 Diabetics.

http://www.thediabetesblog.com/2007/06/13/a-natural-sugar-that-is-whey-low-on-blood-sugar/

Finding Health & Happiness in the Little Things

So, I ordered Sweet Potato Flour and Whey Low Gold and got in the mail today. I am excited! The Sweet Potato Flour is for Gluten Free Cooking, which is part of my eating plan. And the Whey Low Gold is a brown sugar substitute, something I have been trying to find for years.
So here's to experimenting in the kitchen like a mad scientist and having fun making healthy, yummy treats!!

Letting Go

I have to say that in many ways, 2008 was a banner bad year for me. I lost several people that I love very much, almost lost my father and had many other personal issues land on my head. I know this is life and I usually take it quite philosophically, but this last year just seemed too unreal to be true.

Among the many things I lost this year, I gained a large amount of weight that I had recently taken off. My high was 231 and I got down to under 200 for the first time since 2006. I am now back over 200, however and am sick of it.

My cousin and I have made a pact and she is very motivated, which helps me. I hope in turn to be an encouragement to her.

I have always struggeld with my weight and I have come to believe my issue is largely due to food becoming my coping mechanism. However, as this last year proved, I need a different way of coping or I am going to kill myself with ill health.

So here's to letting go. Finding a new way to a healthier me.