Take Xylitol For Any Headaches, and Midol For Any Cramps

Funny story...the other night I'm bringing my wife a fresh baked banana-walnut muffin nearly straight from the oven...with a little notso butter and only about a 3rd of a muffin she says...because she is going to be asleep shortly and doesn't need to eat a whole one...which is good because the last 3 batches of muffins could pass as ottomans. They're seriously huge. Way more muffin than any one man should eat in one sitting. If I were Otis Spank-meyer, I wouldn't be too worried though because I still haven't figured out a way to mass produce them (muffins) anyway and then I'd have to give my Health Coach a massive kick back because they're her recipes anyway...but I digress.

My wife asks me (again) what is in the muffins, since earlier that day she called and told me that her wheat alergy is kicking up and was there any way I could make them without flour. So I asked my health coach and she suggests spelt I'd heard of spelt, that could work! Enter SPELT!

I've only casually heard of spelt before; sounds like something you pull out of a lake though there's nothing fishy about it, so I figured why not? Upon colluding with my health coach, operation Spelt was in full effect! I found some miraculously in Warrensburg and immediatly went to work making new muffins.

The muffins turned out fabulous and my wife asked me for that 3rd of a whole one as mentioned before...then she asked me that question I dread answering... "what's in these?" I started ticking off ingredients and when I came to Xylitol on the list of things (all of about 10 or so...find that on an Otis Spunkmeyer muffin and then keep adding ingredients/chemicals until you hit about 40 or so) she asked me...does everything we eat have to have xylitol in it? What other kinds of sweeteners do you use? Oh and what is xylitol anyway? I explained that xylitol comes from the birch tree and other natural plants like some fruits and corn cobs and the reason I use it in our food especially baked goods is because it has the reverse effect on our bones and teeth that regular processed sugars made from sugar beets and cane have on our teeth and bones like tooth decay, and also it helps prevent osteoperosis and so on...so that seemed to work for now...she said the name freaked her out which I find ironically funny because this is a woman who ingests about 6 different prescription medications daily, some of which are potentially dangerous to her internal organs like her liver, kidneys and heart and the word "DEATH" as a potential side effect in some of them...and she's worried about xlyitol sounding weird? That's macbre! She's coming around and trying new things so I'm very encouraged and I understand for her it will take time...Rome wasn't  built in a day...It's gonna take time :)

Cheers and Happy Mosh Pitting!

Doctor, Doctor, Can't You See My Hip is Burning?

Okay, there’s no other way to spell this other than saying finding out I have possibly got sciatica is massively disappointing considering I ran my best 5.5 mile time since coming back from my half decade hiatus from running. I had 5 different x-rays done and an examination by a doctor and she concluded that for the immediate future my running was going to have to wait. That in a word sucks! Okay that’s the dark cloud…here’s the silver lining:

As much as it is a bummer to have to reel in my running there are other things I can do to keep myself fit cardio-vascular wise and still keep on track to prepare to run a marathon in the fall if my doctors say it’s okay for me to do so…if not, no biggie right? I mean the main goal here is to be able to walk when I’m 100 and be fit doing it. My diet is on track and doing well. I’m eating better than I ever have and feeling so much better. So I have that going for me. I just can’t run for a while, and no one said it would be forever. I can golf, swim bike and use the elliptical trainer not to mention weight training as well so I have options. All is not lost. Actually swimming will help strengthen my core muscles tremendously and help build my lung capacity as well as my chest shoulder and arm muscles…and I’ve been saying all along that I really should improve my upper body strength. Nothing I can think of would do that better than having them pull 185lbs through the water for 3000 meters.

So while I’m disappointed about not running, the other options give me a lot of reason to be and stay optimistic. Then there’s the spiritual aspect of my training. There are things I believe are absolute truths things I know at the core of my being are right. Principles with Divine promise…things if I adhere to and obey, I will reap the blessings of those principles. So long as I continue to stay focused on my diet, mainly eating whole plants and grains and avoiding things like caffeine, and stay humble, I know Father will hold up his end of the bargain. He’s promised me and cannot lie. He has promised me that all things I desire in righteousness will be given to me and nothing will be withheld. What I desire is a functioning left hip and spine…and I know it requires that I heed the council of my health coach, my doctors and therapists…and listen for the spirit and follow the guidance I receive from it as well as what I am able to glean from the words of those who have gone before me…the ancient prophets and masters. They had a direct conduit to our Heavenly Father and I would be wise to follow their wise council as well as pray continuously for divine guidance for myself directly from Him. My main focus needs to be heavily entrenched in my spiritual recovery process and I know as I heal there my body will follow. It cannot help but do so. Also I've thought about fasting with the sole purpose of asking Father in Heaven to help me with my sciatica and all those suffering with the same affliction. Perhaps if I ask Father to help those who need his help and while He's at it relieve my discomfort and heal my spine as well we can work something out. Its worth a shot. If He needs me to show Him more...I've got more...

There are things I don’t but should and will eventually comprehend about all of this and while I don't, I have to have faith it will all work out. I know faith can produce miracles. I really believe that healing my hip and alleviating my sciatica would be a major miracle… I can’t wait to see how it all works out! After a trial of my faith, then cometh the blessings. I’m very excited! Very hopefull and I know good will come of this!

Run and Not be Weary

So...I'm on day 2 of no caffeine. Yesterday I took the day off and didn't run yesterday trying to give my hip the day off. I'm worried about the possibility of having sciatica. I've tried to stay more consistent on my regimen of herbs and so forth and and it seems to be working out rather well.

I didn't have any hip soreness or tightness this morning and so I decided to go running. Not a bad thing at all...I run the DD Loop which is posted below...

The one big difference I felt this morning is that before I started out I knelt and prayed to have the Lord's healing hand on me as I ran and to prove me herewith the promise of keeping the word of wisdom...I prayed and acknowledged I'd been 2 days off caffeine and could He please help me make my goal of finishing my run...

Not only did I finish, I finished a whole minute and a half faster than I have since the last time I ran the loop. Awesome huh?!

Okay so I'm off to get my blood drawn and see about getting an Otho consult for my hip! Fun!

Sorry this is so short today...Thanks Coach...I love you. You're the best!

Running to Safety

Apologies in advance to my Personal Health Coach for my slacking on keeping up with my blog. All the time she devotes to helping me and others to get and stay healthy, the least I can do is keep my blog current....so here we go.

After last night and the wonderful experience of receiving my patriarchal blessing in the mail, I felt I needed to celebrate by making a legit run this morning. I thought maybe a change of scenery would help reduce some of the boredom a 4-5 mile run can provide. Even with new music in my I-pod it can get tedious...

This morning I got a quick hello from Coach and a smile and thumbs up! Tooootally made my day! I know she's dedicated to seeing me through my transformation and that inspires me because I was a trainwreck when she found me.

I took off on my new route sort of making it up as I went along. This time instead of running west then south, I ran north then west to PCA road until it crossed the highway onto the north part of town then west toward were Walmart and the movie theater are located. Its a challenging run with a few decent hills and I was feeling really good the first 3 miles of the run and then I started feeling a little bit tired. I'm happy now that I drank my morning smoothie of ashuaghanda, chia, maca root and morenga powder along with half a cup of coconut milk, a T xylitol and 2 T of raw cacao powder. Also sampled about 3 T of red beans and rice prepared overnight and they tasted AWESOME!!!!! Great recipe Coach!

I ran the whole 5.44 miles and finished in 44 min 45 seconds. just under 9min/mile pace. I have to do better. If I'm going to run a sub 50 minute 10K in the near future I have got to step up my game. I have to do better than I have but I also realize I'm working thru siatic nerve issues and a sore left hamstring (sore from a 7 yr old hamstring tear while serving in Korea) issue so I'm not pushing as hard as I can in order to prevent making things worse. For the first time in my life I'm acutally listening to my body.



Overpass Loop

Coach has been riding me like an old stubborn army mule about quitting coffee. I love her for it. It's the hardest vice I have to overcome. Dang it! Beer and bourbon weren't this difficult. I havent' had any today and it's past 11am so there won't be any later. I can do this!

Thank you, Coach for keeping after me and encouraging me. I love you and only want you to be proud of me. If I can do that I know someone else will be proud of me too.

Cheers!

Upon Further Review....

So I had a night to sleep on yesterday's dust-up with the Mrs. What I've concluded (probably convolutedly) is that both of us over-reacted. She made a comment about stuff with onions and I came back with the comment about her having selective allergic reaction syndrome...(a distant relative to SDS or Selective Deafness Syndrome, which afflicts children from about the age of 10 until 18...or until 48 if you're a man). In other words, "she said some things, and I said some things..." Next thing you know its "here we go again!" So pointless.

I got defensive and she felt threatened...seems that's how wars get started or something. "Mr Breznef, your borsht taste like dirt from a field in Syberia fertilized with Yak dung."

"Da? vell, Mizter Nixon, your noze looks like za ski jump outside za Olympic williage ve haaf bin conztruktink for za upcoming vinter olympics in Mozkow, da? Vhat do you think of zat?"

The following morning we started talking again and rehashing the previous night's "discussion" about food. She told me she would rather eat things whole like a whole avacado or a whole carrot or whatever and that sometimes she just doesn't like things all blended together and could we maybe do that too. She didn't bring up onions...until much later.

So anyway, we're in the car headed into KC and she starts asking me if she can have a cashew as I'm eating a breakfast snack of cashews and Brazil nuts while we drive into town... Defensive-pig-headed me says; "sure, help yourself." She does and then helps herself to another and so on... After a while she asks me... "is all white rice processed." I answered that I believed so but I'd look on line via my android (sometimes) smartphone and see what we would see. Then answer was pretty much yes. All white rice has been processed/bleached or whatever by removing the husk of the grain thus removing the bran and fiber from around the grain. And then most of the time the remaining rice grain is "fortified" with vitamin B and polished so its nice and shiny... reminds me of that non-nutriant cereal varnish Clark Griswold was working on for Ed Shirley, his boss on Christmas Vacation.

On the way home, we stopped at Ghengis Kahn, my favorite resturant in all of KC. I had a wondeful plate of Mongolian barbequed vegetables...red and green bell pepper, a ton of white onions, jalepeno peppers, water chestnuts, zuccini, cabbage, mushrooms and the hottest sauce I could concoct along with sesame seeds sprinkled over the top and fresh parsley (which I won't be adding next time as it made my whole plate taste like spicy hot grass). Regardless it was delicious.

We made a pit stop due to heavy traffic on the drive home because she needed a "fix" (read Dr. Pepper) so as we're walking back to the car she admitted to me that her co-workers thought I was awesome and handsome and blah blah blah as if that was going to soften the next blow...she told a couple of them about our "discussion" about onions...about how I told her I didn't think she's notice them as much because I diced them so small and sautee'd them in coconut oil before mixing in the other ingredients...as if right? So we go from her angry at me to her "diming" me out to to her friends at work and this makes me sweet and attractive how? Whatever. I guess it is kind of funny but bottom line here is, when it comes to making dinner for my wife, I have to be like the soup Nazi on Seinfeld and say; "NO SPICE & NO ONION FOR YOU!"

Color me royally messed with. I guess I deserve that...or something. On a totally different note, she's not sure she likes the house where we're moving..."the basement is smaller than I remember and so is the garage..." Really? Whatever, if we decide we don't like it or she hasn't beat me to a pulp in my sleep with a cast iron skillet, I think its still okay to list and sell the house and move... that's still okay in this country right?

"...all these things shall be to give thee experience..." message received, Lima-Charlie (loud and clear).

Cheers!

P.S. Thanks for listening Coach. I love you.

You Think You're Better Than ME?

So last night was not a really good night. Didn't get my run in, had a really stupid fight with my wife. Apparently because I'm not a nurse, I don't know jack squat about nutrition or science and my thoughts and opinions aren't viable and not credible because I don't have a nursing degree or a degree of any kind. The argument last night had to deal with my buying nutritional in between meal bars. All of which contain no processed sugars or anything in them that isn't holistic. She claimed that eating them at work was making her fat. I mean she would have to eat like 900 of them for that to be true. There's like maybe 100 calories in them and none of those calories would lead to her retaining fat around her abdomen...

So she tells me that nuts and so forth are heavy in fat...and I'm like yes they are fatty but they contain the good kind of fat you need in your body not the processed fat that your body stores and can't digest or process. Her response was, "I'm a nurse, you think I don't know that?" Like what? I'm not a nurse and haven't been to college or whatever so it makes what I say less credible or the articles and documentation made my dudes and dudettes with PHd's in nutritional science not credible?  My dad used to pull that crap with all of us kids whenever we'd say something that hit too close to a nerve with him..."you kids dont' know sh*t," was what he'd say..."you haven't been anywhere or been to college or..."blah, blah, blah. Whatever. I'm happy he got his "sheepskin." I'm sure it has really helped him sort and deliver the US Mail. How does that work? I got a history major at BYU so I could be the Postman. Not quite the way he saw that working out I"m sure.

My dad and my wife are brilliant people. I know it and in case my take on their intelligence isn't valid because I'm not a psychologist, just ask them, they'll both tell you they're brilliant. Not to boast about their knowledge, but because its true. However, what I'm experiencing is that while both of them are brilliant, they both lack (at times) inspiration. What I'm trying to do and I'm experiencing is inspiring and helpful...but being attacked by my wife doesn't make me feel inspired. It just makes me feel attacked. Its the old power struggle thing but what she doesn't realize is that I don't give a hoot in a "holler" about power. Its all imagined anyway. I don't have any power over anyone. I just have free agency to choose the right or choose the not-so-right. If others feel threatened by that, that's their issue. I just felt a huge energy drain from last night and into the morning. I've removed anything that will remind my wife that I'm on a different diet than her. I won't quit what I'm doing but I'm not going to have things around that would give her the impression that I'm taunting her or saying without saying; "in your face." or anything like that. If she wants to join me she can. I can imagine how much turbulence there will be when I return to the church too.

She told me last night all we've done since I've been home is argue. I also don't see that. We've had maybe 2 heated discussions, a fight (sort of) and a conversation about why her son and his pregnant girlfriend are still squatting in our home and why his destruction of walls and doors in our home is being allowed and why when he has a perfectly useful space to live, he's still here. After that blew up in my face I just stopped bringing it up and refuse to talk about it anymore or talk to them. All the rest of it is her thinking if we have a discussion with differing viewpoints, we're arguing and fighting. She's stressed about work, stressed about moving, stressed about her son and his pregnant girlfriend, stressed because the train wreck of their failed attempt to get married cost us money...all things I couldn't care less about because I'm powerless to change any of them. I'm trying to concentrate on things I have control over. My effort and my attitude. It doesn't mean I don't care about them. I'm just not going to get wrapped up in the blanket of stress over things I can't control.

Why is it when those who love you see you start to take a different direction or try and change, they feel threatened? Is it the fear that you might leave them or run from them? So what, they attack you so you'll feel good about staying or want to be around them even more? Really? All last night's dog and pony show made me want to do is get on my motorcycle and ride south til I hit the Texas coast. I know this hasn't been easy. I'm trying to remain positive.

This morning I pulled up D&C 122:7-8 and as I'm sure you know, it says:

7 And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.

8 The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?

So that says to me...is okay...a lot of people have suffered even greater trials and tribulations and they're okay....You'll be okay too. All is well. It really is. It just stings sometimes that's all. And no I don't think I'm better than anyone else...I'm just me trying to be better than the "me" of yesterday, not anyone else...just that guy, the "me" of yesterday...needs to be not as good as the "me" today...that's it and that's all.

I know this was kind of a rant. If you made it all the way through it, thank you. I appreciate everything you've done and continue to do for me Coach. Thank you so very much.

Cheers!

Teecinno and Artie-bisque

    Today's title sounds like a bad made for TV movie right? So anyway, my ever loving PHC is trying like a mad bandit to get me off....of coffee...its possible and at some point I won't see the need for it. Actually, I realize I don't "need" it per-se, I just like the taste...so at her suggestion I decided to to try this wildly odd concoction called teecinno...its totally decaffinated and has this wild melange of flavor and what's really cool is I can brew it a cup at a time in my coffee maker! Bonus! Tonight I brewed up some and what do you know? It has a sort of mocha-coffee-ish taste to it...and as it turns out it tastes GREAT! Good thing too because I wasn't about to toss out my Starbucks coffee mugs!
    Now on to the next portion of this entry...the artichoke bisque...I followed the recipe to the letter...and it turned out tasting absolutely divine! OMG moment totally! However-dot-com...turns out there were waaaaaaaaaaay too many onions in it for my wife to handle as she has this on again off again onion allergy. The next time she orders onion rings at a resturant or at SONIC I'm walking home. :)
    So I felt bad that she didn't eat more than a bite. She said it tasted delicious but there were way too many onions. So what I learned from this situation: I need to be more aware of my wife's sensitivities...I mean I've been with her for going on 14 years. I know she's got this thing about onions and yet I still put them in there at full strength thinking maybe this time she will be able to eat them...guess that's what I get for thinking. I've come to the conclusion that what I need to do from now on is what I'm going to call "his and hers" cooking. I will make every recipe according to the way it was designed for my consumption and leave all the spices, onions and garlic out of what I prepare for her and let her season her food however she wants...I figure as long as she's getting something nutritious, its better than nothing...I on the other hand will be reaping the benefits of eating everything that's included in the recipe and getting the full effect of the nutrients in them.
    Reminds me of that song about women getting weary because of all the stress or wearing the same old shabby dress or something like that and when they get weary..."try a little tenderness." Or words to that effect. I guess I don't need her getting weary of me trying to kill her with nutrition...which also reminds me of a joke:
    This guy was at a funeral for his recently deceased 3rd wife. A distant relative asked him how he could possibly go on after so much loss in his life and he was curious about how this man's wives all died...The man calmly told his distant relative that his first 2 wives had died from comsuming poison mushrooms.
    Shocked the distant relative said; "I almost hate to ask...how did your third wife die?"
    The man nonchallauntly answered him; "she died as a result of a fractured skull...she wouldn't eat her mushrooms."
    Anyway....I just need to remain sensitive to her condition(s)...and not get my feelings hurt when she turns her nose up at something different. It's kind of funny, its almost like making something new for a child to try...good gracious you'd think I was trying to jam brussel sprouts down a 6 year old's pie-hole :) I'm joking...she's okay. I just need to be more attentive.
    And now for something completely different - I got my run in tonight, 4.6 miles in 39:15! not too bad. I did the complete distance without stopping and felt great after finishing. I tried to add a loop at livestrong.com but for some reason it wouldn't let me save it so I had to do a screen capture. The data in the right collumn isn't accurate. The 4.6 miles took me 39:15 not 38:25. Maybe next time I'll hit that 38:25!

    I did some weight training on Saturday with legs, leg presses, hamstring curls, quad extensions and squats...Sunday morning when I got up, I couldn't figure out why my legs and butt hurt...could not concieve of a reason even knowing I'd lifted weights with my legs the day before...total "DUH" moment...but the cool thing was after walking around for like maybe 5 minutes I felt no soreness and bounded upstairs to get my lunch ready. Totally weird this new lifestyle...and totally into its total AWESOMENESS!!!!!
    Thanks so much Coach. I love you for all you do for me...love you so much!!!

Cheers!

Stiff Neck'd

Okay so today I ran for the second day in a row. Shorter run than yesterday and I didn't finish the whole thing either time...I was pretty tired when I started so it stands to reason right?

I ran last night and it was nice and cool not too bad but today though the sky was overcast, it was still kinda warmish...so when i hit 3 miles it felt like 6 and I was getting knackered pretty fast...soooo I fast walked and ran alternately til I got home...

For breakfast I had mushroom stew with quinoa mixed in about 1 part to 1 part...it was AWESOME! so delicious! Oh and I dumped a huge dose of curry in it too...soooo good!

I had to deal with a pinched nerve in my shoulder/neck area all during my run yesterday and today....it was brutal and not very fun...but I tried to power through it and managed but ended up on the masseuse' table for an hour and a half... that helped considerably...I now feel much, much better.

I tried the refried bean recipe from my coach...its delicous...and the tomato soup was wildly delicious! I'm so blessed. I'm excited for my next meeting with her on the 8th. She has been such an inspiration in my life. She's encouraged me to not just concentrate on one specificl area but be a well rounded guy and embrace the total person concept...She's so awesome...totally dig her!

Cheers!

Another Day...Whew!

Every day I wake up its a blessing. I get one more day to try and figure something out....like well, anything. I'm not sure what I'm going to learn today but I'm pretty sure it won't get lost on me. Each day is a secret, sacred journey. One step at a time, one moment at a time, one day at a time...all in the here and now...in the moment. I don't have to worry about yesterday since I have no intention on revisiting it. Everything that happened yesterday was perfect. I got to take some interesting pictures. I learned how to use my laptop camera and fiddle with the pictures with some editing software...so it was all good.

So that's what I did yesterday. Not your garden variety excitement. Of course getting out to get in a 4 mile run yesterday followed by making and devouring a chocolate smoothie made with coconut water, raw cacao powder, cacao nibs and mejoll dates (I was out of bananas). It was AWESOME!!!!! I took a long hot/cold shower after, smiled when I thought about Coach patting me on the back after finishing my run and her smiling at me hoping she's proud of me and feeling her with me every step of the way in soul and spirit. I love that about her. I can always tell when she's there. Her spirit wiggles into my soul, hugs me and kisses me and tells me I CAN and WILL. What a tremendous blessing!

After my shower and scrubdown, I headed over to the Central Missouri University campus and Lion's Lake to take pictures. I got shots of the bell tower where the Muslim community and the rest of Warrensburg gathered in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attack on the WTC. I remember it was a very somber and holy moment for a lot of people. One Imam from the Muslim community addressed the people there and decried the attack on the United States and basically said that nothing good will come of this. It was a really incredible moment, Muslims and Christians, Buddhists and non-denominational people all gathered together. It was a very polarizing moment. I'm sure it was like that all over the country.

I took some pictures around town and haven't had a chance to edit them yet but I'm sure I will soon. This is the first time I've put any pictures on my blog so I hope they look okay. I'm sure if they look like pig-swill someone will tell me :)

Cheers.

P.S. I love you Coach!