Just some thoughts on obesity (Children in particular)

These are some thoughts that I presented for a specific school project, but I thought I would share them with the masses.

As with most things, I view this issue from a different angle, maybe from a broader perspective.  As educators, we need to get out of our thinking that obesity is caused by overeating.  Especially in the case of morbid obesity.  For someone who is only 300 pounds, they need a whopping 3000 cal/day as a basal rate.  So for those that are 400-600 lbs, they should be eating nonstop all day long to get them there and keep them there.  They have to be true gluttons in every sense. This is obviously not the case, especially for children. There must obviously be another answer.  I don't want to be the one who is always blaming everything on our horrible culture, but there is some affect here.  The question must be asked, why does the human body create fat cells? Even though this is not entirely a simple question with not one simple answer there is a general category that engulfs the majority of the answers.  This is survival.  Why does a body need stored energy?  For survival.  What is out there that our kids need to survive? Isn't that all in their (our) head?  Well to name a few: our Lord of the Flies educational system, broken homes, isolation, abuse, peer pressure, and the big one... decision making.  Survival for the human body is a physiological shift.  It is often referred to as stress, but that term has become so trite that is almost mocks what people are experiencing.  We have placed our kids in an environment where they feel like they need to be constantly running and/or fighting.  They have no peace and comfort at home because their parents are engulfed in their own struggle to survive, they go to school where they haven't figured out how to conquer the social hierarchy to keep from being isolated or picked on and most have been placed in a role of primary decision maker for their own outcome.  They are choosing their meals, choosing their friends, choosing their past times, choosing the best actions to keep the family together and themselves happy.  This is not a proper role for a child. Children should not HAVE to make these decisions.  And then when we see these same kids getting sick and fat at alarming rates, WE, the health community, blame the children for eating too much or making wrong decisions that they should not have been making in the first place.  Is it too much to fix?  If it is then we have signed the death warrant on our children and on our culture.  We need to start being mindful and start dealing with these kids like they were adults, because they often seem to be the only ones acting like one.  We need to help them understand what is really happening in their mind/body/spirit and teach them to be the superintendent of self.  They need to know that they have power to make different choices and enlighten them to what is really happening to their body. I never give up on anyone and everyone is worth the effort but it makes more sense to begin to shift our energy and focus from educating adults to educating kids.  They are world turners right now.  I want to coin another term for the society that I think we live in now.  It is no longer a patriarchal society but a pediarchal society.  If you have trouble believing that then follow the money... watch a little tv and see who those with money are paying attention to; its our kids. Maybe we should do the same thing.

The Power of Hydration

Failure doesn't exist in Lifestyle Change!!

Lifestyle change takes deliberate steady changes over time to take effect.  You have your whole life to get it right.  Would you say that a toddler learning to tie his shoe is a failure until he accomplished it for the first time?  What about when he gets it all confused a couple years down the road?  The answer is still NO.  It is a learning process not a failure.  You have to struggle and experiment to see which way works best and will carry you for the rest of your life.  When my oldest daughter was learning to tie her shoes we started with the standard method of making a loop and wrapping the other string around it and tucking it in to make the second loop.  For a three year old, this proved to be a difficult process.  So we switched to the method of making two loops and tying them together.  This made the difference, she finally understood what was going on and started tying her shoes.  Later that year, however, after she had gotten more proficient, decided to go back to the first method because it seemed like a better method.  Now years later, she ties them quite well having perfected the method in her own way.
       We don't ever read a story like that and think failure is involved, but when it comes to other areas like eating better and exercising, or separating from old habits and starting new ones, we say things like "falling off the wagon" and the worst word ever, "can't".  If you determine that something is good for you and this is the way you want your life to look down the road then start figuring out what it will take to have that.  Feel free to try multiple methods over time to see what works best for you.  Start gradual and let your body, mind and spirit learn and grow.  You will start to see patterns of things that don't work and things that get in your way, as well as things that work very well and things that help encourage you.  Find a way to get more of the positive and less of the negative.  This is called growth.  Do not let yourself get into the faulty circle of making deadlines and resolutions which all have time periods attached to them and almost always lead to "failure".  Make decisions instead about what you want your life to look like and then begin a process of growth to get there.  Some things will take your whole life to be proficient and some things you will pick up very quickly.  If it is your life, it cannot be a failure.
       And always find others to help teach you and support you along the road, just like you are learning to tie your shoes all over again.  Happy Journeys and PLEASE share some of the roads you are traveling down or have traveled and what the scenery looks like along the way.

Day 27 -- The End of the Beginning and the Beginning of the End

So we have reached the end of this excursion. We would normally be doing our last detox for the next three days but I am training for a half marathon next week and don't want to be coming off a cleanse, I want to be building.  So we will do it after my recovery days from the race. 

I have been having lots of questions lately about how I am doing and whether or not I have felt any different since I already did this diet last year.  The answer is a resounding yes.  I have crossed new milestones in my health that I never knew existed.  I have also been hearing a lot about what my wife is doing.  Everyone is noticing her new more amazing figure and energy levels.  We will be doing some tests over the next week or so for her and Ian in regards to dairy.  They have not had any tummy issues since we started all this and both are anxious to know if it fixed their tummies.  I told them that healing might take a little time but a small test shouldn't hurt at this point.

I will say that I was not sure how this was going to go but I am so amazed and proud of my entire family.  Abigail has had few changes but was not really ever sick anyway.  she has had some respiratory issues since she was little and was given steroid inhalers so this was a good way to get those systems clean and healthy again.  And of course, my little baby bear himself... Well, the changes in him are indescribable.  Some are only noticeable by those who spend a great deal of time with him but so many others are plain to see.  It is too easy to just say he is a different boy.  He is more than just a different boy, he has matured, he has laughed, he has learned to be 3, he has found his voice (often too much of it), he has found his feelings and is learning to understand them, he has found relationships he can understand and desires to grow them, he has lost his abnormal tummy but kept his cute 3 yr old belly, he has a bright face and enlightened eyes, he has learned to prosper and persevere, he has learned to do hard things and learned to take care of his body, he has figured out what makes him feel good and what makes him feel bad and is learning to make the right choices for himself.
You may say this is normal for a little boy, and it may well be, but it wasn't normal for my little boy 27 days ago.  All of that in just 27 short but excruciatingly long days. 
I know it also sounds so melodramatic to always be saying how our lives are changed and stuff.  But we made a conscience commitment to change our life and lifestyle not knowing what would lie ahead.  Our lives were changed because we sought to change them.  We put our foot down and crossed the line, never to return.  It wasn't all that hard but it certainly wasn't going to change by itself. 

Our Wellness is Our Responsibility

Not a Dr. or a company or the t.v. or anyone elses, it is ours and we took that responsibility to make our family well and do what was necessary.  The result... Haven't you been reading?  they speak for themselves.

I will continue to post some results, before and after statistics and maybe even some pictures.  The excursion has come to an end but the adventure is just beginning.  Here's to being well!

Day 23 -- The bread of life (for my wife)

So last night was our official yeast test but I forgot so I went to the local whole food store today and got one of their mini loaves of home made bread to bring to my wife and kids.  My wife is kind of a bread freak.  That is probably the one thing that she has really worked hard at and sacrificed for this program.  So I surprised her tonight with a loaf of bread.  She said she was going to cry.  Now we just sit and wait.  Hopefully no symptoms reappear.  If not then we only have a few days left.

I intend to end the program with another detox which is normal, but I was intending to be the only one because Corinne doesn't need to go anymore time without nursing.  Poor Alexis was traumatized as if mama didn't want her anymore. So she is off the hook with this one.  I asked the kids tonight just to say I did and they were adamant about doing it again with me.  so I guess they will do it as long as they want to.  I think mama will be in school by then so it might be interesting keeping them on it.  Though last time we didn't have to say anything, they actually motivated us.  They are awesome kids.

We were talking tonight about ending the "diet" and we came to the conclusion that even though the program is over, we don't have any intention of changing much of anything.  consider it a full lifestyle change.  My take is that calling it over will prompt my brain to want to go out and eat everything in site just because it is over.  If you make one exception of stuff to go back to, then why can't you make two or three exceptions?  Why not just make no exceptions and adopt a whole new lifestyle.  We love it, we have learned from it and it has made us more organized and will save us money in the long run.  I see no down side.  not to mention the health value added.  Here's to lives and lifestyles changed forever.

Day 22 -- the big sis

Guess I am posting every other day now... oops.  Another nice evening nap after a very long day.

There are not many changes to note anymore.  Most of what is happening now is solidification of good habits.  At this point I could live on this diet forever.  I don't see any reason to change anything.  Maybe add fruit back into our diet but other than that.  We are all enjoying the food and have found great substitutes for everything we used to eat.  I don't foresee a large amount of changes after we are finished with this program.

I do want to throw a shout out to my big sister.  You know that this has been a family excursion but you may have not known how much of my family.  My big sis has been in a big stick for quite some time.  She used to work out like an olympic hopeful for months and months with only a pound or two of weight loss.  Her health had diminished much like mine did, but for a longer period of time.  She is only a few days behind us on the program and is showing amazing results.  She has not started an exercise routine yet though she is quite active and commented to me today that she is having the same embarrassing problem my wife is having... Their underwear keeps falling down!  I have dropped a good bit of weight but I don't have any trouble with my draws.  you gotta lose a good ton of inches to start having problems with the stayability of the choneys. 

So totally proud of my whole family.  She is a perfect example of someone who has done everything right with diet and exercise and lifestyle, that whole deal, but with no results.  It just goes to show that it is not always about just doing better things or living healthy if there is something in you that needs to be treated and removed.  It needs to be taken care of first or you are just wasting vitamins and veggies.

 I want to bring more attention to the holistic concepts of health.  It is about finding and treating the problem, not the symptoms.  One gland or one organ cannot be the problem in a holistic mindset because nothing in our bodies acts alone, everything works with and for something else.  If one thing is acting up then it means the whole system is out of balance.  Lets get to balancing not just stuffing symptoms.

Here's to a balanced life: mind, body, spirit

Day 20 - pretty close to perfect

It is becoming pretty obvious what the true effects of wellness are.  Harmony and happiness, discipline and unity, peace and self control, smiles and laughter, exercise without pain, frustration without explosion, food without the tummy ache, pee without the yellow syrup and poop without the grunting or waiting.

Thats a pretty complete list.  Needless to say the days are getting better and better.  Another 10 days of this and we will be totally hooked.
Our grocery shopping, we have been 3 times since the beginning trip, has become a blessing.  We enjoy shopping for food. we only buy stuff we love to eat, which is also crazy healthy.  We can make just about anything out of very little and our options have increased dramatically.

We had a small revelation this morning with vitamins.  Corinne decided to switch things up a bit and use vanilla shake for the vitamins instead of chocolate and they loved it.  It wasn't a chore to get them to drink it, which it really hasn't been in a long time but they don't enjoy it.  This morning they enjoyed it... go figure.  Ian wants to try strawberry now.  don't know why we never thought of that.  they can't wait to try it tomorrow.

And to top it all off, we had an amazing dinner tonight with sprouted grain pasta and marinara sauce with perfectly steam broccoli and bake sweet potato discs slightly drizzled with cinnamon and maple syrup (you could barely taste it).  Now I am listening to the ice cream machine I bought yesterday finishing up our vanilla coconut milk ice cream.  We found the right stuff this time so we should be good to go.  yay for amazing and seeing the "fruit" of our labors.  We have prepared every meal we have eaten for 20 days and I don't even see what we used to use that time for before, its not that big of a deal and so very rewarding.

Day 19

I think I fell asleep too early to post yesterday.  Our fruit test went well.  I don't think there has been any ill effect.  Today was a weird day though.  not sure how to describe it except maybe disjointed.

I am starting to really enjoy stopping by the supermarket instead of the fastfood place.  I hope this will be one of the things that is learned the most.  We had baked wild salmon tonight with veggies.  then we had coconut milk vanilla ice cream.  We will have to practice that a bit more to get the consistency right but it tasted great.  We are just settling in to normal life I think now.  we don't really even think about the diet much or any of the rules, we just enjoy the awesome, real food we are eating and the health we are experiencing. 

Day 17 - no more hot water

Well I haven't talked to the family much today, but I for one feel amazing.  I haven't had this much sustained energy and mental clarity since high school, maybe never for the mental clarity and focus.  Who would have known that so much that goes on in our bodies and minds could be affected by something so simple?  Those who have known me recently have noticed an increase or presence of more anger and aggression. I don't feel any of that anymore.  I now have a relatively large list of symptoms that I am determined are a direct result of the candida.  Now I will know that if any of them come back it is not because of a bad or long day or being sick or whatever, its because of the candida and I can eliminate it very quickly.

There has been so much revelation by observing Ian and Corinne and especially myself to see the dramatic changes which have only taken place from this program.  Tomorrow night is our fruit test so Monday will be the determining factor for the candida being eradicated sufficiently that sugar does not have a revitalizing affect on it.  If we pass and no symptoms return then we can continue with moderate fruit in our diet.  After a few more days we will try it with bread (yeast).

The greatest lesson thus far has been the knowledge of self.  I think we often become like the frog in the pot of cool water whose heat is turned up slowly.  Turn it up fast and he jumps right out but slowly and he never notices the change until the change is so significant that he is forever and in a sense irrevocably altered.  Without a moment of self awareness and inspection there is no way of knowing what the true situation is and how it came to be.  This has been that moment for me.  I feel like I know myself and my family so much more now than ever.  We have bonded together as a team to understand ourselves and each other. 

I now know how long I have been in that hot water and just how hot it actually got.  Fortunately, its effects are not irrevocable.  I feel empowered and alive, healthy and vibrant far younger than my years.  I feel like we have been led to understand our children in ways that none other is able and as a result have a gateway to the root of their minds and hearts. 
The biggest impression on me was the other night when i was feeling so rough and Corinne slipped out to go to work and took the baby and left me alone (dying) with the other two.  I slept the entire night except for a few groggy moments.  during those moments I realized that they were there and unsupervised for multiple hours.  They were playing with their toys in the living room right by me and never broke a whisper, they never argued about anything. They got our their playdoe by themselves and even cleaned up their mess when they were done. After I woke up around nine-thirty they were both sitting on their beds with books and in their jammies.  I asked them who told them to do those things and they said that the sun had gone down and so they figured that they should put up their toys and get their jammies on.  Daddy was not feeling well so they didn't want to ask if it was time to go to bed so they just got their books and sat on their beds without a word and read until someone got home to tell them it was time to turn out the light and go to sleep.
These are the things that make me proud of being a father.  I am blessed by the things and people God has put in my life to lead us in making these powerful and difficult, life changing decisions.  To them I am eternally indebted.  Without these things I would not be able to truly know my family and would have faced a very long road of struggle and confusion both for myself and for my son especially.  Thank you family for trusting in me and thank you for taking the expedition with me.
Here's to life...more abundant!

Day 16

crazy long day today... over 14 hrs at work but I feel superhuman.  I miss feeling like this.  I can feel my strength coming back and my mind is so clear.

Corinne said today was a whiny day for Ian. reminiscent of Ian 1.0.  I hope it is just a 2 yr old thing, but only time will tell.

Short but very sweet.

Day 14-15 -- Paying stupid tax

Ok, so briefly I will discuss why I did not post yesterday and it all comes down to paying some stupid tax.  First of all my healing crisis waited for the day after the detox, fever, snot, the whole nine yards. I am at work all day every day which means that I have to cart around all the food I am going to eat for the entire day, well being 3 days without food I guess I was a little rusty.  I had lots of water and a few handfuls of raw veggies.  then I went for a 6 mile jog with a friend in the afternoon.  Almost didn't make it home and had some very terrible reactions, from what I assume was crazy low blood sugar, won't get into it but it was terrible and scary. 

I guess the kids were kinda the same on the healing crisis, Ian's was small but profound and seemed to pass within a couple hours.
We all feel like a million bucks today. I have a little congestion left but not much.  Sooo much energy today. And just about back to normal on the food so that is looking up.  We are a couple days away from our fruit test day and the kids are all but ready.  They are ready to be done but are still marching along like superstars.

Abigail spent some time teaching another little girl tonight about why she can't have sugar and if they weren't little probably would have convinced her to go on a diet herself.  Ah the conversations had by 4 yr olds in front of a candy vending machine.  We are all glad we have taken this journey and can't wait to see what happens with our test days.  Here's to lessons learned and stupid tax paid in full.

Detox Day 3 -- wish I had a burger

so I guess this means we are all done with the detox days. Start building good foods back into our diet tomorrow.  I always have a desire to splurge after a detox but not this time. I don't even like burgers much anymore but I might kill for one now... just because. 

The kids get the gold medal for this one though.  I have never seen anyone take fasting as well as them.  I guess kids will do anything they feel is right and do it well.  They are ready for food, don't get me wrong. I don't think they could go another day, but good thing is they don't have to.  Poor little Alexis is feverish and stuff and I am feeling the seasonal yuck but it is a little different than normal.  time will tell.  Corinne wants a burger too.  Yay for yet another chapter in this amazing and trying tail to be behind us.

This week we build back up our foods slowly to not upset the system and by the end of the week we will be testing our fruit.

We will take weights in the morning just for posterity sake, most weight loss is bowel weight which will come back, and the difference is toxin weight which we are trying to keep off for good.  Here's to burgers

Detox Day 2 -- Part Deux

A Great Day.  very weird.  I felt pretty good all day. just now starting to get a little hungry but I am going to bed so who cares.  Corinne was feeling a little drag today but she made it through.  Alexis is struggling with no nursing but occasionally enjoys her bottle which has never happened before.  The other kids are flawless.  We had some, "I didn't get my nap until 4 pm because I didn't want to sleep in the car and I haven't eaten in 2 days" whining and even a minute meltdown or two but that is even light for normal. I am incredibly amazed at them.  Tomorrow is the last day of detox, I will be at work all day so Corinne is running the show.  Should be great. The kids are looking forward to the end. I showed them on the calendar what days we have to do what and they planning our fruit infusion on Sunday.  A test to make sure all is well.  they want personal apple pies... we'll see. 

And I think we ended up switching to a 30 day program with an added kick.  just because of where we had to stick the detox.  still great.  oh and no healing crisis at this point that we can tell, nothing major anyway.  This evening is usually when mine hits but the only thing I have going on is seasonal allergies but mild, so it could be allergies or a small healing, time will tell.

Detox Day 2 -- Part 1

Another great morning.  Spirits are high and so is energy.  We have a mostly busy day planned.  It seems to keep the kids minds off food when they are playing and having a good time.
We woke up and got the lemonade assembly line together.  Abigail had a brilliant idea about not taking the stickers off all the lemons because we were just going to cut the skins off anyway.  Genius. 

We noticed this morning while Ian was getting dressed that he has exchanged his little candida budda belly for a nice looking baby 8 pack... impressive. I'm jealous.  Vitamin shakes are in the making and all systems are go.

Detox Day 1 -- Part 2

I think I have the most amazing kids in the world.  They did great today.  They carried around their little bottles of lemonade and every time they got hungry they just took a drink.  No whining, no nothing. They are fast asleep after a long day so I guess that puts day one in the books.  I am soon behind them as i am still not feeling real great, trying not to be moody though. 

On a different note... I am glad that this doesn't come around very often because I don't think my bank account can handle the stress.  We aren't even eating and I spent $50 on groceries tonight that will only get us through tomorrow.  who knew lemons and maple syrup was so expense for 4 people.  I thought the regular weekly groceries were bad.  We balanced that though because we are not eating out or snacking or anything that didn't go in the cart last week, so all in all it actually saves. Except $50 a day for lemonade... holy cow man!  It better make us superhuman.

 Everything is ridiculously amazing. 

Thinking I might be living in a dream, though that may all end tomorrow with a healing crisis or 4 of them at the same time, oh yeah.  bring it baby!  Here's to hardcore healthy!

Detox Day 1 - Part 1

This morning started off well.  The kids and I cut up all our lemons and put them in the juicer and mixed our lemonade.  While we were doing that we talked about giving our bodies a rest and letting them heal.  We also talked about blood sugar and how that works with our food and being hungry.  The kids are such good sports, they will pretty much try anything without any complaining. we'll see how long it lasts. I am looking forward to the detox, it makes me feel so renewed.

Day 10 -- a day late

10 Day was more of the same.  good stuff.  Then my neck tension started giving me a headache at work.  wasn't feeling real well.  fortunately I got to go home a little earlier than normal and then slept in my chair until I went to bed at about midnight.  So that is why there was no post last night. 

I think the Ian 2.0 has succeeded in bringing about Ian 2 yr old, not sure I'm a fan. lol.

Day 9 -- D-Day

Well we have made it to the Candida Funeral.  It is supposed to be officially dead.  It has been an amazing ride so far and not very rough.  Another first from Ian today.  We were sitting in the car hanging out at my work while the kids climbed over the seats and stuff and one of my coworkers came up and was chatting. then when she left, Ian screamed bye about 5 times.  Again, may not seem like much but this is coming from a kid who has never said one word to a person outside our family for any reason. sometimes won't even talk to family.  Now he is vocal and social... I have to completely relearn who this kid is.  Ian 2.0 is an interesting sort. 

Vitamin drinks are no big deal anymore, and we are pretty comfortable with cooking 3 meals a day and snacks with no eating out.  This diet is going to save me a fortune on eating out, but I miss hanging out at the natural food store cafe.  such great food and great folk.  I had a carrot juice there today just to add some spice to the day.

On my last note, we have all but decided to move up our detox to this weekend because I will be working next weekend and Corinne wants to do it when I will be home the longest.  so its this weekend or 2 more weeks.  We just need to make sure we have enough milk stored for Alexis so that Corinne can detox with us.  Now those will be interesting blog days if we live through it.  Here's to dead yeast and detoxing!

Day 8

Starting to stabilize.  Ian is able to focus better.  had a good morning at gymnastics, was able to pay attention real well.  Corinne said the same thing at her soccer game tonight.  She said she had much more concentration and clarity to focus.  I am far more productive at work than I have been in a while, not all because of this but it certainly helps give me the edge.
On the food front... we finally found tortillas at Trader Joes.  they are awesome.  It gives us one more step toward normal type eating, at least more to what we are used to which helps the kids. They are used to eating just about everything in a tortilla. 

I don't really have much to write, we are doing quite well, far better than I had expected.  Even though I really had no idea what to expect from everyone else.

I may take some time to be informative so if anyone has any questions, here is the place to ask. Especially those of you who are finding this to be way too close to home.  you have seen the speed of the results, it is strict but it is not impossible or really even difficult.

Day 7 - a funny day

Today will go down in history as the day Ian laughed.
Those of you with kids, have you ever had a child make it to 3 and not remember ever hearing him laugh? He screams and giggles when you tickle him to death, but not actually laugh because he is happy. If you can realize the magnitude of that, then you will understand why we are doing what we are doing.  Not for harm or carelessness but for precise care and holistic prosperity, and to allow my son happiness for the first time in his life.  I was so touched when Corinne told me because I had seen it too.

Both kids drank their vitamins this morning with no problem or coercion. Corinne found a way to mix them with less liquid so the amount to drink was less. 

I am feeling great, so does Corinne.  We went on a family jog tonight in the sprinkling rain.  All five of us and the dog. Abigail rode her bike and the other two rode in our double jogger. It was short but a very nice time.  Energy is up in the whole house.  I am not sure if any of us have been to bed before 2230 this week.  Too much energy to sleep.  But then we are all sleeping quite well, even the baby is doing pretty well.  We are looking forward to a new menu and some new options coming up this week.  Mainly, for me, Maple Syrup.  Our bodies don't process it like sugar so it doesn't create an insulin response, which decreases the likelihood that candida will live off it but better safe than sorry so we don't have any until after D-Day (day 9). Sweet potatoes roasted with maple syrup, cinnamon and walnuts!!!! Wow, my favorite. anyway, i digress. needless to say we are doing quite well and Ian has become a new child, and we aren't even a 4th of the way through.

It is so encouraging that our bodies heal so fast when we just give them a chance. The miraculous healing power of the body is stronger than any illness.  Give your body a chance before it is too toxic and tired to overcome.