Last Night's Dinner

Last night's dinner was very simple to make and is very healthy. I took 1 lb of ground lean turkey, added some Italian seasonings and made them into patties and placed them on the grill. Once that was started, I cut up some white onions, portobello mushrooms, zucchinis, and corn. I placed the broccoli in water to cook just for a moment to tenderize them (drained the water to set aside for soups later), then added them to the medley of vegetables and cooked them all on the grill. When they were ready (which is just a couple of minutes) I sprinkled them with sea salt and sweet basil. It was a delightful meal.

I also put hot sauce on the top of my turkey. It was DIVINE!! Now THERE'S some healthy eating for you!!

The Lord heals your diseases, redeems your life from the pit, satisfies you with good, shows compassion to his children, and knows your frame. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Psalm 103: 3-14

Read the Bible and Read It Again

In searching for something to post this morning, I ran across this piece from John Bunyan that I would like to share with you. I was thinking on these things this morning and I do believe this is a "God Given," meaning
nothing is by chance and when your thoughts are on God things, He will see to it that you are GIVEN more information and understanding. He GIVES it freely and is willing to stand with you in your search. We just need to be open to Him. It is not that we first loved Him, but that He first loves us. I appreciate the writing below...


Read the Bible, and read it again, and do not give up on understanding something of the will and mind of God, though you think they are locked up tight from you. And don't trouble your heads if you don't have commentaries and expositions; pray and read, and read and pray, for a little from God is better than a great deal from human writers. Besides, human ideas are uncertain, and are often lost and tossed around, but what is from God is as securely placed as a nail in a hard board. Nothing remains with us so well as what we receive from God; the reason why Christians today are so lacking when it comes to some things, is because they are content with what comes from human mouths, without searching and kneeling before God to ask Him the truth about things. Things that we receive from God's hand come to us in mint condition; though old in themselves, yet they are fresh to us. Old truths are always new to us, if they come to us with the smell of heaven on them. (Barbour, The Riches of Bunyan, 1998, p. 46) ~ John Bunyan

Whey Protein and Other Stuff

Not only have I been diagnosed with Adrenal Fatigue, the past few years I was diagnosed with IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), GERD, and Acid Reflux. I have been going up and down in my weight for those past few years, but was able to maintain until recently. Since my adrenal glands are working overtime, it has kept me in an exhausted state. But now I have a holistic doctor that is giving me some good advice on what to do. I have NOT lost control!

We established earlier that for GOOD HEALTH we need to eliminate stress in our life. Although stress will never be completely out of our lives, we need to understand how to keep it under control; moderate exercises, meditating, deep breathing; whatever your stress is, let it roll off your sleeve. It isn’t worth losing your health over.

The next most important thing is to stay hydrated. (I keep bottled water with me at all times and drink from it often.) My doctor suggested I drink 1 bottle of water when I awake in the mornings and to eat within 2 hours upon rising, whether it’s a couple of boiled eggs, a piece of cheese, or a protein bar/shake. So I purchased Whey Protein powder (24g of protein) and Mootopia milk. Some mornings I mix the protein shake with milk and sometimes with water. (My family loves the protein milk too and I can’t keep enough in the fridge! It’s good for my family, so I don’t complain. It is FAT FREE and has 12g of protein.) So upon rising and after getting ready for work, I mix the protein shake with 6 oz. of water or milk. (And if you noticed, I have my shake with Elvis!) I don’t use the blender since I’m up at 5AM and no one else is. I stir the shake and don’t even mind the lumps. I get the chocolate flavor and the little pieces remind me of a wonderful brownie! This also helps me with my cravings for chocolate. 

To help get my adrenals back in shape, the doctor suggested I take a multi-mineral multi-vitamin, 2 fish oil pills (1000mg each with Omega 3 & 6) with high amounts of EPA & DHA (1000mg), a natural supplement called Adapten-All, and 2 multi-enzymes (a digestive aid). I also include 10 drops of Licorice Root Liquid in my water. By the time I take all of these, I have used 1 bottle of water (and sometimes more).  Then on my way out the door I place Pregnenolone (10mg) and DHEA (5mg) tablets under my tongue for hormone balance. I do this routine three times a day. Also, as I’m leaving for work, I open another bottle of water to drink on my way to work. Once I am at work, I open another bottle and sit it on my desk; when that one is empty, I open another one. Get the idea?

My wonderful husband and I go to the local YMCA at least 3 days a week and use either the treadmill or the bicycles. It’s really great exercising side-by-side and getting in our 30 minutes, as prescribed by my doctor. That should be enough now until my adrenals are working properly. I will go back to her in another month or so for my check-up. I will keep you posted.

“When we are young, our thoughts are never on health, or getting old, or even what tomorrow will bring. We live life and are care-free. We sleep, we rise, we live. At what point did I lose my youth?”

~ Brenda Stevens

[By no means am I suggesting this is what you need to take or do. I am under a doctor’s care and if you believe you have any of these symptoms, you also should be under a doctor’s care for YOUR health. Taking some of these supplements can be dangerous to your health if not monitored by your doctor.]

Down Memory La La Lane

L to R: 1st row: Donny, Brenda (me), Robyn

2nd row: Charles (brother), Kathy, Terry (brother)

3rd row: Ray, Jimmy

1st row: Robyn, Donny, Kathy, Brenda (me), Charles (brother

2nd row: Ricky, Jeffrey, Jimmy, Ray, David

Down Memory La La Lane

Life tends to get hard sometimes

as we make our way to the finish line.

So many ups and downs, twists and turns

that we think our lives will never settle.

Then comes a time of remembrance to where

you can ease down memory lane in that La La

Euphoria. The times that seemed much brighter

and happier, and everyone is giving and kind.

Down Memory La La Lane you want only to

reminisce about the good old days; sending

laughter and sunshine to all who will listen.

Come closer and I will tell you a story.

It was a time of good cheer and much food

at my dad’s parent’s house. All the family

members were very close. The cousins

would always find mischief to get into.

It was a lovely Easter day and my mother

had dressed my brothers and I in white.

But while at my grandparents, we found

a creek and schemed a way of fun.

We dammed up the creek that had plenty of red

clay mud. The girls asked the boys to toss them

in (so that way it wasn’t their fault.)  The fun was

magnificent, but now the white clothes were red.

We were gone for hours, and by the time we returned,

the parents were "lovingly" mad. We said our goodbyes

and couldn’t wait for the next time.  The ride home

was cold, but BOY did we ever have a great time!

That’s one way to ease stress Down Memory La La Lane. You are more than welcome to share your memories with us!! In order to keep a healthy life, easing stress is the FIRST KEY to getting there.

1st photo: taken by one of our parents, circa 1957

2nd photo: taken by one of our parents, 2009

The first photo is of myself and brothers along with our cousins that found mischief when ever we were together. The others hadn't been born yet. The second photo is with some of those younger cousins at one of our reunions. To let you know, these are not all the cousins. Some couldn't make it that day. We hope some day to get us ALL together again, at least one more time. 

FIBER 101: Soluble Fiber vs Insoluble Fiber

No woman I know likes having flabby arms, chubby thighs, or bountiful hips. But fat in these areas is considered subcutaneous fat; meaning "under the skin". It's not pretty, but it's not as hazardous to your health as visceral fat; meaning "deep".

Visceral fat is found around the waist and belly and surrounding the vital organs. This type of fat may increase one's risk of high blood pressure and heart disease, according to an article in Science Daily.

In a study from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in North Carolina, you may be able to reduce the amount of harmful visceral fat by eating more soluble fiber. When participants consumed more fruits, beans, and vegetables, and got moderate exercise, they lost visceral fat, the study showed.

So fiber is a health benefit! It not only promotes good health, it also helps reduce the risk for some chronic diseases. It prevents constipation, hemorrhoids and diverticulosis according to some studies.  Also lowers the LDL cholesterol and the total cholesterol therefore reducing the risk of heart disease.

Adding soluble and insoluble fiber to your healthy eating habits for less belly fat! Both fibers are undigested. They are therefore not absorbed into the bloodstream. Instead of being used for energy, fiber is excreted from our bodies. Soluble fiber forms a gel when mixed with liquid, while insoluble fiber does not. Insoluble fiber passes through our intestines largely intact.

Functions of Insoluble Fiber: moves bulk through the intestines and controls and balances the pH (acidity) in the intestines.

Benefits of Insoluble Fiber: promotes regular bowel movement and prevents constipation; removes toxic waste through colon in less time; helps prevent colon cancer by keeping an optimal pH in intestines to prevent microbes from producing cancerous substances.

Food Sources of Insoluble Fiber:  Vegetables such as green beans and dark green leafy vegetables; fruit skins and root vegetable skins; whole-wheat products; wheat bran; corn bran; seeds and nuts.

Functions of Soluble Fiber:  binds with fatty acids; prolongs stomach emptying time so that sugar is released and absorbed more slowly.

Benefits of Soluble Fiber:  lowers total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (the BAD cholesterol) therefore reducing the risk of heart disease; regulates blood sugar for people with diabetes.

Food Sources of Soluble Fiber:   oat/oat bran; dried beans and peas; nuts; barley; flax seed; fruits such as oranges and apples; vegetables such as carrots.

KEY MESSAGE: An average diet contains 75:25 insoluble fiber:soluble fiber. When making a food choice decision, don't worry about choosing a specific type of fiber. Many foods such as oats, oat brans, and flax seeds are rich in both fibers. Eating enough fiber is more important!!! The recommended intake of fiber is 25 g per day.  If you eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables as well as at least 6 servings of grain products per day (at least 3 of which are whole grains), you are very likely meeting the fiber requirements.

The Lord heals your diseases, redeems your life from the pit, satisfies you with good, shows compassion to his children, and knows your frame. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

Psalm 103: 3-14

Life Style Changes

The adrenal glands produce more than 150 different hormones, including adrenaline (sometimes called epinephrine), cortisol, norepinephrine and, most abundantly, DHEA. In an ideal world, the adrenal glands would have part-time jobs. BUT our human bodies ARE designed to survive stress, but can not strive with a steady diet of stressful events. CONSTANT stress means excess levels of stress hormones circulating through the body, which eventually leads to adrenal burn-out and sometimes, if it's bad enough, reduced immunity, and a host of chronic ailments take over. So it is important to maintain your stress levels and GET IT UNDER CONTROL! 

Now for the good news! 

Preventing -- or correcting -- adrenal burn-out requires lifestyle changes, like staying hydrated, exercising regularly (moderately, not excessively at first), eating well, and getting quality sleep.

Above is a dinner I fixed the other night of grilled Talapia fish seasoned with a little Tony's Chachere and lemon. I had some steamed broccoli left over from the night before, but first I grilled some onions until they were caramelized and then cut up the broccoli and finished grilling them together. I also served a little salad with it. IT WAS DELICIOUS!!  With fish like this, you can serve any kinds of vegetables with it. I have served it with portobello mushrooms and zucchini, sprinkled with lemon pepper and sea salt. YUMMY! Be creative; add seasonings and spices of your choice.

The Lord heals your diseases, redeems your life from the pit, satisfies  you with good, shows compassion to his children, and knows your frame. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Psalm 103: 3-14

We're all familiar with stress -- it's a constant element in a woman's busy life.

A couple of months ago I was starting to feel so exhausted by the end of the day that I could hardly walk to my car after work. All I wanted to do was make it to the couch. I felt so drained! When I went to my family doctor, he wanted to prescribe anti-depressants. I felt like he was telling me to just shut up and get over it. How was that going to help me get my energy back? Later, while in his office, I found a pamphlet that advertised a holistic doctor. I decided to call her and made myself an appointment. All of the ladies in this office were so very nice and pleasant. The doctor there listened to me!

A saliva test was suggested for hormone testing. She gave me these vials to spit in everyday; morning, noon, and night, for one day. I thought that would be an easy thing to do, but I had to really work at it, but I was finally able to fill to the line. These vials are sent off to the lab. I also had blood work done.

In a couple of weeks the results were sent back. My blood work was great; my blood sugar, my cholesterol, etc. As for the saliva test, it showed that I had Adrenal Fatigue which is something that I have never heard of before.

Our adrenal glands sit atop our kidneys to monitor our “fight or flight” responses. When faced with a stressful situation, our bodies rely on the adrenal glands to either release adrenaline, which makes us more alert and focused, and cortisol, which converts protein to energy and releases our stored sugar, glycogen, so our bodies have the fuel needed to respond quickly. In today’s society women are inundated with stress that doesn’t let up.  When chronic stress forces the adrenal glands to respond continually without any recovery time, either the adrenals start overproducing cortisol, which can lead to insomnia, anxiety, and the “tired and wired” feeling, or they become depleted to the point that cortisol production can’t keep up with demand, which can cause depression, fuzzy thinking, fatigue, weight gain, cravings, and mood swings.

So since STRESS (whether physical, emotional, or psychological) is a main factor, then it is important to maintain stress as much as possible through lifestyle modifications; diet, herbs, minerals, vitamin supplements.  My doctor stated that I should not exercise except to walk 3 times a week for 30 minutes each time. Any more than that can cause the adrenal glands to overwork.  So now I am on a regimen of supplements, diet change, and walking. I will keep you posted.

The Lord heals your diseases, redeems your life from the pit, satisfies you with good, shows compassion to his children, and knows your frame. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

Psalm 103: 3-14