Some thoughts on food, weight Loss, and health

A few years back, I lost a substantial amount of weight. I started out as a size 12 Petite and am now a size 2 Petite. So that's an achievement, and I feel pretty good about it on a personal level. When the weight came off, it seemed to be noticed rather suddenly. The last 20 lbs or so really did seem to come off fast. So how, people asked, without wondering whether the question was offensive, did I do it? Short answer: I ate less. But a longer answer is required. How do you eat less? Cut your cravings. How do you do that? You eat real food. Food that is unprocessed or minimally processed. Eat real food, not too much, like Michael Polan says. The "mostly plants" part is pretty sound advice, though there's some controversy about it. I do NOT eat low fat. DO NOT DO THAT. I do not eat low fat, my cholesterol is exemplary (the bad kind is very low, the good kind is high), and my blood pressure is low. I do not avoid saturated fat, and that includes animal fat. (I do buy local and organic, but that's a subject for another post.) The only fat I avoid is any oil that has been highly processed: hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils. Beware of canola oils: most of them are more processed than the label lets on. I use mostly coconut oil, grapeseed oil, olive oil (mostly EVOO), flax oil, hemp oil and ghee. (I don't cook with all of these--also a subject for another post.) I eat a fairly high protein, high fiber, and somewhat high fat diet. I am satisfied. I am not hungry. I do not have cravings. I NEVER drink soda. I have never looked back. Sometimes I take supplements, but I don't encourage it for two reasons. First of all, it's a big money making racket, and most supplements don't do much of anything for you. Some can harm you. The supplement market is unregulated. You're taking risks there, so if you take a supplement, you must do your homework. Know your company, and know the peer reviewed research. If in doubt, don't take it. I don't think you have to take supplements to be healthy or lose weight. Also a topic that deserves its own separate post, and I have posted on it in the past. I do exercise, though I don't credit that with my weight loss. It's important for maintenance and overall health. I like exercising because it makes me feel good. I highly recommend low impact exercises like yoga, swimming, and walking. You don't need to hurt yourself. I could go on, but if you're looking for some big secret to weight loss, or some "weird little trick," you're looking in the wrong place. There is no "trick." It's not magic. Eat a complex and varied diet of actual food rather than chemicals, and Bob's your uncle. Try it, and let me know what you think.

Advice to new graduates that will be entering the teaching profession

Advice to new teachers just entering the profession. In these troubled times, don't we need all the help we can get? You'll also find that tech guy has lots of money saving ideas. Thank you, tech guy.
Educational Technology Guy: Advice to new graduates that will be entering the teaching profession

Students are drowning in debt

To fund their education, students are taking on more and more debt. Unfortunately, much of this debt comes in the form of unsecured, private student loans. This is a very risky form of debt. Students are desperately trying to prepare for an increasingly uncertain economic future. Even in the best of times, this kind of debt could ruin college graduates financially before their careers have even started. Do students and their parents need a financial literacy lesson? Absolutely. Do these types of loans need more regulation? You betcha. Students are drowning in debt | LinkedIn

Our new FCS mantra?

"The biggest problem in the world could have been solved when it was small." - Lao Tzu

Good Enough Moms | with Dr. Marti Erickson & Erin Erickson - Motherhood in today's world - Podcast

Great, free podcasts for parents on this website. I truly recommend them. Quick, easy, and useful information. Who could ask for more?


Good Enough Moms | with Dr. Marti Erickson & Erin Erickson - Motherhood in today's world - Podcast

This week's podcast:

Apr 11, 2011
Have you wondered if your child’s language is what it should be for his or her age? How can you tell and where can you get help if you think there is a problem? A speech and language pathologist offers practical guidelines and suggestions this week!

Women Feel Guiltier About Today’s ‘24/7’ Jobs

WebMDHealth Newletter : Women Feel Guiltier About Today’s ‘24/7’ Jobs

I was just reading this health newsletter, and it revealed what I would suspect most of us already suspected: the work-life balance is getting more difficult, and women tend to feel guilty about it. We don't tend to manage our expectations, we just beat ourselves up for not doing a better job at whatever it is we don't have time for. This article offers helpful advice for women in developing a more balanced a realistic approach to work and family life. It's well worth the couple of minutes it takes to peruse--so don't feel guilty about taking a moment to read it.

Positive Discipline--What It Is and How To Do It

Here is a wonderful publication from www.stophitting.com about positive discipline. I think it's so helpful, and very reader friendly. Please share.

http://www.stophitting.com/pdf/PositiveDiscipline-WhatItIsandHowToDoIt.pdf

News: Childhood Illnesses Exact High Cost on the Entire Family, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

News: Childhood Illnesses Exact High Cost on the Entire Family, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

What should be apparent to all: childhood illness hurts financially, not just physically. Healthcare and family financial issues are intimately interrelated. Not only must the family absorb the costs of caring for the sick child, but there are increased health expenditures for all family members.

Taking care of people's healthcare needs is a big part of helping them manage family life. Not sure why it's taken us so long to figure that out.

As a reminder, the Kaiser Family Foundation has the easiest to follow explanation of the healthcare legislation that I've found. http://healthreform.kff.org/
You will also find thoughtful analysis of the healthcare legislation.

"Supplements" or Snake Oil?

It is important to be aware of the problem of unregulated, untested "supplements", which can make fairly outrageous (if not specific) claims. In some cases, these supplements are ineffective, have unwanted side effects, or are dangerous. Always consult your physician.
For more, go to the FDA website. Many supplements making health claims regarding weight loss, fitness, and sexual health are dangerous and have been pulled from the market.
FDA Warning -Beware of Fraudulent ‘Dietary Supplements’ http://ow.ly/4iL6G

A Dressmaker's Journey: Clothing Construction and Fashion Design as a Means of Feminist Expression

How can learning traditional skills such as clothing communication empower women? Provide financial security in a threatening world?

This is why I love Diane Rehm's show so much. Where else would you hear this?
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2011-03-17/gayle-tzemach-lemmon-dressmaker-khair-khana

Cool Health Website: The Visual MD

http://thevisualmd.com/

Check it out!

Study: Diet May Help ADHD Kids More Than Drugs : NPR

Fascinating! This is the first time I've seen ADHD compared to eczema. It makes sense to eliminate possible environmental triggers, including foods. This has the potential to really reduce our reliance on medication, although I should add that we should proceed cautiously in terms of how this should translate to individual cases. I don't think the authors mean to imply that medication is never warranted.
Study: Diet May Help ADHD Kids More Than Drugs : NPR

The Future of Children - FOC in Blogosphere

The Brookings Institution's The Future of Children publication is a wonderful resource. It is free, and the information is always timely and relevant. I like to use it as a reference in some of the classes I teach, and I recommend it to students and colleagues.

I discovered that FOC is keeping track of mention its articles in the blogosphere. So, at the risk of turning this into an endless echo chamber, I decided to holler back.
The Future of Children - FOC in Blogosphere

Free webinar on balancing work and family!

http://www.workingfamilyresourcecenter.org/WFRC/en/index.asp

Working Family Resource Center: Online Parenting Discussions

NCFR member Dr. Marti Erickson will host online discussions on three different topics about parenting, April 15, May 20 and June 10. Topics are Helping Your Child Manage Emotions and Get Along with Others: The What, When and Why of Supporting Healthy Social-Emotional Development; From Baby's Babbles to Toddler's Tales: The Power of Language in Living, Loving and Learning; and Learn to Play and Play to Learn: Understanding the Central Role of Play in Your Child's Learning and Development. The discussions are free of charge, but space is limited so registration is required.
http://www.workingfamilyresourcecenter.org/wfrc/en/p2plive.asp

Women's Rights Eroded

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I realize this is controversial, but we have reached a point of complete madness when it comes to women's rights, including our right to choose--yes, our right to abortion. I am hearing things going on nationally that make my hair stand on end. What I don't want are more abortions. What I do want is an atmosphere in this country that's less hostile to women and their families: by far, in my opinion, the best way to reduce abortions. We should care about children after they're born as well as while they're gestating, and we must care about their parents as well. Anything less is sheer hypocrisy, and, in my opinion, misogyny. Without Roe V. Wade, we go back to unsafe, back alley abortions that will endanger women. Not acceptable. We cannot shrink from this conversation. Not now. It's a lot easier to protect rights you already have than it is to gain back rights you've lost.

The Devastating Toll of America's Lack of Paid Parental Leave – The Sisterhood – Forward.com

The Devastating Toll of America's Lack of Paid Parental Leave – The Sisterhood – Forward.com

This blog about parental leave's impact on families says it all. I have nothing to add: consider this a re-blog.

Hard times generation: homeless kids - 60 Minutes - CBS News

If you missed this story on 60 minutes, view it now.
Hard times generation: homeless kids - 60 Minutes - CBS News

This is truly moving--we cannot allow this trend to continue. We're losing a generation.

New database gives consumers a chance to spot unsafe products before they buy | cleveland.com

More consumer information means more empowered consumers--and a healthier public. Thanks for passing this along, Cleveland.com.

New database gives consumers a chance to spot unsafe products before they buy | cleveland.com

Are the Rich Getting Richer? The Data Say Yes - DailyFinance

60% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. This is either a catastrophe waiting to happen, or a catastrophe in the process of happening. Do we care about working families? Do we care about rising inequality? We should. It is time for Family and Consumer Scientists, and indeed all Americans, to stand firmly behind families and consumers. No?

Take a look and American wage growth adjusted for inflation:

Bottom 20%
• 1975 household income: $12,664
• 2001 household income: $14,021
• increase: $1,357
• percentage increase from 1975: 10.7%

Middle 20%(a.k.a. "the middle class")
• 1975 household income: $39,807
• 2001 household income: $51,538
• increase: $11,731
• percentage increase from 1975: 29.4%

Top 20%
• 1975 household income: $91,848
• 2001 household income: $159,644
• increase: $67,796
• percentage increase from 1975: 73.8%

Top 5%(a.k.a. "the wealthy")
• 1975: $134,735
• 2001: $280,312
• increase: $145,577
• percentage increase from 1975: 108%

Data from from DailyFinance:http://srph.it/acaXmS

Are the Rich Getting Richer? The Data Say Yes - DailyFinance