JUNE 15, 2009 - GREAT GREENS FOR YOUR HEALTH

I was reading the March 2009 issue of "Natural Health" magazine today, and came across the following article. I was so inspired, I went out and bought collard greens, and mixed them, raw, half and half with the romaine lettuce in my salad. Wow! Great flavor - somewhere between lettuce and cabbage, with a firm texture.

Integral to the soul-food diet, greens are high in vitamins A, E, C, and K, as well as calcium and iron.

MUSTARD GREENS - Pungent and peppery, mustard greens pair well with milder greens and are an especially good source of calcium. Boil until tender and shop them once they're cooled, then cook them down further with some garlic, salt and pepper for a full-flavored side dish. 1 oz. raw = 0.9 net carbs

COLLARD GREENS - Most people overcook collards, but the flavor - mild, with a bit of smokiness - is best raw. Younger leaves, chopped finely, are better for salads and slaws. They're high in antioxidants like beta-carotene, which help protect your cells from free-radical damage. 1 oz. raw = 0.6 net carbs

KALE - Most kale varieties come from the broccoli, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts family, all of which are rich in cancer-fighting phytonutrients. Kale's mild, earthy flavor makes it ideal for sautes and stir-fries. 1 oz. raw = 2.23 net carbs

BEET GREENS - The next time you crop off the tops of your beets, chop them and gently wilt them in a gumbo or soup. Beet greens are thought to promote heart health. 1 oz. raw = 0.2 net carbs

JUNE 15, 2009 - ESTROGEN DOMINANCE CAUSES WEIGHT GAIN

Estrogen Dominance and Weight Gain

What does estrogen have to do with weight gain? In the presence of too much estrogen, in men and in women, weight may be very difficult and sometimes near impossible to get rid of!

Estrogen dominance is on the rise! And it's not just for your grandma, either! Because of our lifestyles, our food supply and our environment, estrogen dominance is showing up in thirty-year-olds and even teens!

Strictly speaking, it's possible that we - men, women and children - are all suffering a little from estrogen dominance, because there is so much of it in our environment. You would have to virtually live in a bubble to escape the excess estrogens we're exposed to through pesticides, plastics, industrial waste products, car exhaust, meat, soaps and much of the carpeting, furniture and paneling that we live with indoors every day. Over time, the exposure will cause chronic problems, and may be a direct or indirect cause of cancer.

Here are some of the symptoms of estrogen dominance:

Acceleration of the aging process

Allergy symptoms, including asthma, hives, rashes, sinus congestion

Autoimmune disorders such as lupus erythematisos and thyroiditis, and possibly Sjogren's Disease

Breast cancer

Breast tenderness

Cervical Dysplasia (a pre-cancerous condition)

Cold hands and feet as a symptom of thyroid dysfunction

Copper excess

Decreased sex drive

Depression with anxiety or agitation

Dry eyes

Early onset of menstruation

Endometrial (uterine) cancer

FAT GAIN, ESPECIALLY AROUND THE ABDOMEN, HIPS AND THIGHS

Fatigue

Fibrocystic breasts

Foggy thinking

Gallbladder disease

Hair loss

Headaches

Hypoglycemia

Increased blood clotting (increasing risk of strokes)

Infertility

Irregular menstrual periods

Irritability

Insomnia

Magnesium deficiency

Memory loss

Mood swings

Osteoporosis

PMS

Polycystic ovaries

Premenopausal bone loss

Prostate cancer (yes, men can have estrogen dominance, too!)

SLUGGISH METABOLISM

Thyroid dysfunction mimicking hypothyroidism

Uterine cancer

Uterine fibroids

WATER RETENTION, BLOATING

Zinc deficiency

What is the answer to estrogen dominance? Natural, bioidentical progesterone replacement to balance the hormones.

JUNE 15, 2009 - CONFESSION TIME

When I finish eating a meal, and there is butter and/or olive oil left over...

I lick my plate... (tee hee)

But only in front of my husband! If there is company over, I take my plate into another room to lick it in private.

And I don't do it in restaurants. At least I haven't yet...

JUNE 14, 2009 - WEEK 13 RESULTS

Beginning weight - 150 / BMI 26.57 / Body Fat 42.9%
Current weight - 142.6 / BMI 25.26 / Body Fat 39.2%
Goal weight - 125
Goal date, based on average since starting - January 15, 2010
Goal date, based on average in the last 30 days - June 23, 2010

Here is an average of my daily food intake for this past week:

1441 Calories

105.4g Fat (65.8%)

89g Protein

34.1g Carbs

19.1g Fiber

15g net carbs, of which 11.3g came from veggies

I weigh on a body composition scale, so I can tell how much fat, muscle and water I have gained or lost.

Scale weight lost this week - 0.6 pounds
Fat lost this week - 0.7 pounds
Muscle gained this week - 0.1 pounds
Water gained this week - 0.0 pounds
Total scale weight lost since starting - 7.4 pounds

Since starting, I have lost 4.9% of my total body weight. I need to lose another 11.7%. I have lost 29.6% of the 25 pounds I need to lose.

According to my doctor, I needed to lose 35 pounds of fat, and gain 10 pounds of muscle. So far, I have lost 8.5 pounds of fat, and gained 1.1 pounds of muscle/water. The testosterone and weight lifting must be starting to work!

I've also been keeping track of my measurements on fitday. I measure every Sunday.

Neck 13.75 - 12.75 = 1 inch down
Bicep 11.75 - 12.00 = 1/4 inch up
Forearm 9.00 - 9.00 = same
Chest 38.25 - 37.25 = 1 inch down
Midriff 33.00 - 30.75 = 2-1/4 inches down
Waist 31.50 - 29.25 = 2-1/4 inches down
Navel 39.25 - 35.5 = 3-3/4 inches down (the heart health zone, so this is great!)
Hips 42.00 - 39.75 = 2-1/4 inches down
Thigh 24.50 - 22.50 = 2 inches down
Calf 14.50 - 14.25 = 1/4 inch down

Total lost this week - 1 inch
Total lost since starting - 16-1/2 inches

Slow weight loss is better than no weight loss! Slow losers, take heart!

At Colette's advice, I dropped my calories down to the lowest end of minimum, and, as soon as I did that, I immediately started losing. In the last couple of weeks, I did start trying to increase my calories, but started gaining again. Again, Colette advised me to decrease them again, and I started losing the next day. I guess I may have to stay here for awhile...

I am taking my supplements, including Acetyl L-carnitine, drinking 84 oz. of water each day, and walking 2.5 miles on a treadmill at 3 mph at least 1 time per week. I do a Hatha Yoga class twice per week. I do the circuit (weigh training) at the gym twice per week.

JUNE 8, 2009 - LOW TESTOSTERONE CAUSED WEIGHT GAIN IN WOMEN

Since you are all so interested in testosterone and it's affect on "you know what" (and by "you know what", I mean "you know what!"), I am posted this excerpt from Natural Hormone Balance by Uzzi Reiss, M.D./OB.-GYN.:

Signs of testosterone deficiency:

1. Flabbiness and muscular weakness. The decrease of muscle tone is typically seen in sagging upper arms and cheeks. Women often tell me, "I dislike my flabby arms. What can I do about it?"

2. Loss of hair: "I thought only men lost their hair."

3. Lack of energy and stamina: "I drag through my aerobics class."

4. Loss of coordination and balance: "I seem to fall more frequently when I ski."

5. Loss of sense of security: "I don't feel safe."

6. Indecisiveness: "I just can't seem to make up my mind about anything."

7. Decreased sex drive: "I don't care."

8. Poor body image: "I don't like my body."

9. Decreased armpit, pubic and body hair: "What does it mean that I'm losing my hair?"

Here's how proper testosterone replacement reverses these situations and others:

1. Stamina: "My endurance is much greater."

2. Healthy and stronger muscles: "I have more strength in my arms."

3. Lean body mass and less body fat: "I like my new lean cut."

4. Stronger bones.

5. A feeling of security, positivity, and stablility: "I just feel safer."

6. Increased libido, orgasmic power, and enhanced emotional aspect of sexuality. "I feel like a college kid again."

7. Higher nitric oxide, a naturally occuring substance that helps keep blood vessels dilated.

8. Protection against plaque in the blood vessels.

9. Improved balance and hand-to-eye coordination: "I have more balance in my yoga class."

A final word: Obviously, some people might be tempted to abuse testosterone solely for enhancing physical pleasure. Testosterone is a serious hormone and should be used responsibly under careful medical supervision. Testosterone is an essential part of my health and antiaging programs. It's the third major addition, after estrogen and progesterone, for building up and strengthening a woman in all aspects of her daily life. The key is finding the right balance. Once you find it, you have a really remarkable tool at your disposal.

From Rebecca:

Some have asked if I notice any difference yet from my testosterone replacement. Yes, I do, and here's how:

I am losing weight and building muscle. If my new body composition scale can be trusted, in the past 15 days since I got it, I have lost 1.4 pounds of fat and gained 0.6 pounds of muscle. The flabbiness in my upper arms has gone down some, and I have gained 1/2 inch in my biceps. I can feel the muscle, even when I don't flex it!

My anxiety level has gone down. Generally speaking, I'm not anxious about things the way I used to be.

In the post above, under "decreased sex drive", the woman says, "I don't care." I used to say all the time that if I never had sex again for the rest of my life, I truly would not care! Does anyone else feel like that? Well, now I care. I feel myself becoming a sexual person again, having nice dreams and thinking about my husband in a more romantic way. He's very romantic, and I would just give him the brush off all the time!

JUNE 7, 2009 - WEEK 12 RESULTS

Beginning weight - 150 / BMI 26.57 / Body Fat 42.9%
Current weight - 142.2 / BMI 25.19 / Body Fat 39%
Goal weight - 125
Goal date - September 29, 2009

Here is an average of my daily food intake for this past week:

1476 Calories
107.1g Fat (65.3%)
91g Protein
37g Carbs
18g Fiber
19g net carbs, of which 14.3g came from veggies

I weigh on a body composition scale, so I can tell how much fat, muscle and water I have gained or lost.

Scale weight lost this week - 1.2 pounds
Fat lost this week - 1.2 pounds
Muscle lost this week - 0.1 pounds
Water gained this week - 0.1 pounds
Total scale weight lost since starting - 7.8 pounds

Since starting, I have lost 5.2% of my total body weight. I need to lose another 11.5%. I have lost 31.2% of the 25 pounds I need to lose.

According to my doctor, I needed to lose 35 pounds of fat, and gain 10 pounds of muscle. So far, I have lost 9.7 pounds of fat, and gained 1.9 pounds of muscle/water. The testosterone and weight lifting must be starting to work!

I've also been keeping track of my measurements on fitday. I measure every Sunday.

Neck 13.75 - 12.75 = 1 inch down
Bicep 11.75 - 12.00 = 1/4 inch up
Forearm 9.00 - 9.00 = same
Chest 38.25 - 37.50 = 3/4 inch down
Midriff 33.00 - 30.75 = 2-1/4 inches down
Waist 31.50 - 29.75 = 1-3/4 inches down
Navel 39.25 - 35.75 = 3-1/2 inches down (the heart health zone, so this is great!)
Hips 42.00 - 39.75 = 2-1/4 inches down
Thigh 24.50 - 22.50 = 2 inches down
Calf 14.50 - 14.25 = 1/4 inch down

Total lost this week - 1/4 inch
Total lost since starting - 15-3/4 inches

I am finally seeing some good weight loss! At Colette's advice, I dropped my calories down to the lowest end of minimum, and, as soon as I did that, I immediately started losing. What a relief!

I am taking my supplements, including Acetyl L-carnitine, drinking 72 oz. of water each day, and walking 2.5 miles on a treadmill at 3 mph at least 1 time per week. I do a Hatha Yoga class twice per week. I do the circuit (weigh training) at the gym twice per week.