ON GROWING OLDER

 

It's amazing what having another birthday can do.  I had one recently (a major one) and it started me thinking about time and how little of it we may have.  Of course, we could all get hit by a truck tomorrow, but I mean we need to learn how to appreciate each day given to us.

It's easy to just grind through a day without stopping to look at the wonderful things around us.  I have a Facebook friend who truly seems to know how to observe the little things that color our lives.  Her blog posts are full of beautiful things that many of us would not stop to see.   Do you see yourself here Theanne?

That old saying about stopping to smell the roses becomes even more relevant as we age.  I used to sit at the kitchen table in the morning with my coffee and read the paper.  Now I take my cup out onto the porch and look at everything around me.  My kitty, Sweetie Puss, enjoys these morning outings as much as I do.  While I watch the morning sun coloring the clouds, she watches the lizards climb on the plants outside the screen - knowing she could catch them if only she could get out there.

There are a pair of cardinals that visit my bird bath almost every day, and once they came with a pair of tiny replicas of themselves.  Proud parents showing the little ones how to take a morning bath.  I was afraid to move for fear of frightening them off.  Even Sweetie Puss sat still to watch.

Early morning is the best - before the lawn mowers or the school buses fracture the stillness with the busyness of life.  I do my best thinking then - uninterrupted by the telephone or the computer or the planning of the day.

Late afternoon is good too, because of the squirrel.  There is a sassy squirrel that lives in a tree at the back of my yard.  He travels each day from that side of the yard to the trees on the opposite side - then returns each afternoon to his home.  To accomplish this trip he runs across the screen enclosure over the pool, hops down onto the screen around the porch, and travels sideways to the other side.  He does this every day at about the same time and Sweetie Puss, who to my knowledge has not learned to tell time, knows when he is about to do this and goes to the door watching for him.  She likes to go out on the porch and watch his journey across the screen high above her head.  Sometimes he will stop, hanging upside down, and waggle his bushy tail at her. This usually sends her into a paroxysm of activity that I'm sure he finds quite amusing.  If squirrels could laugh, he would.

Think of what I would miss if I were in front of a computer or a TV screen!  I enjoy my life tremendously and am thankful for each day I have.  

LET'S GO ON VACATION

For those of our readers who didn't check out the July issue of Life-Style, it seemed that a little vacation story (fictional, of course) might brighten your day, so herewith

COOL DOWN WITH LEMONADE

Summer heat got you down?  There's nothing like the tangy, sweet taste of lemonade.  Following is the lo-cal recipe for lemonade from my book, Eat All Day - Drink All Day, the Never-Hungry way to get slim and stay slim.

 http://tinyurl.com/d3ylmlw

                                                 DRINK ALL DAY LEMONADE


Fill a tall glass with water, add 2-3 T. fresh lemon juice (depending on your love for tartness) and 1 packet stevia powder.  Stir it up, add ice and enjoy all you want for about 2 calories per glass.
   

                                                  
Since, as you all know, I am unable to leave well enough alone, here are a few suggestions for additions to the basic recipe.  Choose your favorites, or combine 2 or 3.


ADD A BERRY OR TWO: Mash up some raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, etc. and stir in (mash 'em through a strainer if seeds get stuck in your teeth).


POMEGRANATE JUICE:  Stir in 2-3 ounces.  Full of polyphenols and good for you.


MANGO: Pop some fresh mango into a blender with your lemonade.  Yum


PINEAPPLE OR ORANGE JUICE:  Or both, your choice.


FRESH LIMEADE: Substitute limes for lemons.  All the above additions are equally delicious.


PARTY - PARTY!:  Finally, all of the above are super good (although not as healthy) with a shot of vodka.  Great for pool-side get-togethers, but take it easy, they might sneak up on you.

THE AMAZING, NON-BROWNING GM APPLE

If you've ever been turned off, disgusted or appalled by a cut apple that has started to turn brown, cheer up!  Those friendly folks who brought you the bright red, tasteless tomato have worked their magic on apples.  


By inserting an extra copy of a gene that interferes with the enzymatic activity that causes browning - an enzyme called polyphenol oxidase - they have produced a fruit that can be sliced, diced, packaged in plastic and sold round the world to those purists who must have pristine apples.


This is not to be confused with those apple slices that are already available in the produce departments of your neighborhood supermarkets; these contain preservatives, such as ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) and calcium chloride.   Unfortunately they only (?) have a shelf life of about three weeks.  Now wouldn't you rather have a nice genetically modified apple that would mummify before it turned brown?


You know, an apple a day keeps the doctor away.  Wouldn't it be a hoot if they found out later on that what helps keep the doctor away is the enzyme they have managed to nullify?

THE FUTURE OF FOOD

Regular readers of our blog are aware of our feelings about genetically engineered food.  Not only are we being used as guinea pigs by the agricultural industry, we are also, like lab animals, unaware of what is going on.  Please take a little time to watch this video on the future of our food supply.  It is not only important to all of us, but to generations to come.

THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER

Ever wondered why they call them the 'dog days'?  Find out and see how our canine friends keep their cool on hot days.  Check out "THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER" in the July issue of Life-Style.http://www.rstylelife.com/

JULY LIFE-STYLE IS HERE

 

Have a great Fourth of July.   We celebrate July with a comic look at the Dog Days of Summer and how our canine friends cope with the heat; we invite you to watch a video on The Future of Food and the effect of genetic engineering; we take you on a fanciful vacation from hell; offer some Fractured Definitions in our Randomonium section; and substitute some great summertime recipes  for our In My Opinion column, since we had no opinion this month.

Enjoy the July issue of Life-Style and, if you have a moment, let us know what you think on the Speak Out- Speak Up page.    http://www.rstylelife.com/

WANNA BE A SKINNY BITCH?

This month's review is of "Skinny Bitch", an irreverent tongue-in-cheek look at a vegan lifestyle.  The authors, two former models, offer a reasoned, if somewhat potty-mouthed argument in favor of their view of veganism.  If it has a face and a mother - don't eat it. 


Check out the review in the June issue of Life-Style.

http://www.rstylelife.com/

COOL TREATS FOR HOT DAYS

Is the heat getting to you?  Check out our chilling recipes in this month's Life-Style magazine.  In "Cool Treats for Hot Days" you'll find easy recipes for heat-fighting cold morsels, most of which require few ingredients and little or no work.  Our PLUM SORBET shown above, for instance,  has only three ingredients.http://www.rstylelife.com/

THE PLIGHT OF THE HONEYBEE

All over the world the honeybee is disappearing.  It is a global phenomenon that has beekeepers and scientists alike baffled.  Is it the widespread use of insecticides?  A virus that is attacking hives?


Find out what many believe is decimating the bee population in this article in the June issue of LIFE-STYLE.  Watch the short video narrated by Ellen Page.  It will make you think.  If we lose the honeybees, we lose so much.
http://www.rstylelife.com/
'

THE UDDER SIDE OF THE STORY

Where those happy California cows really live.

If you still think a big, cold glass of milk is good for you, you might be interested in this post by Della Quigley from February, 2011 on the Care 2 website.  If nothing else, it will make you grateful that you're not a cow.


http://www.care2.com/greenliving/a-little-milk-with-your-antibiotics-and-hormones.html

JUNE LIFE-STYLE IS HERE

And not a moment too soon.   Get set for summer with a tour of  "The Beautiful Island Beaches of Florida"; find out about the "Plight of the Honeybee" - complete with video; get recipes for "Cool Treats for Hot Days"; investigate "Bits and Pieces" in Healthy Life; read our review of "Skinny Bitch";gear up for this month's weirdness in "Randomonium"; let us know your suggestions and comments in "Speak Out - Speak Up".


All this in this month's issue of our free magazine!  Whew - are we tired!

THE HORRORS OF ALCOHOL

So, off I went to visit my daughter for a week.  I don't go there very often because she and her brood affect me negatively - calorie-wise, but I missed them all terribly and figured, wrongly, that I wouldn't do anything stupid in just 5 days.


No. 2 grandson has a lofty position in a classy seafood restaurant, so we went there for dinner the first night I arrived.  The food was fabulous - as was the two glasses of wine I consumed.  Please understand that I no longer indulge in my favorite pastime of a glass or two of wine each evening at 5 PM.  It had actually been over 4 months since I had anything stronger than green tea, but this was an occasion!


The trouble with wine is not the alcohol, it is what the alcohol makes me do.  No, I don't tear off my clothes and dance with abandon around the room, but I make very poor choices food-wise.  But, as I said, this was a special occasion and I knew that tomorrow I would return to my close-to-vegetarian ways and be redeemed.  I even brought much of my food with me to daughter's house to be sure that I would follow the path to health.  


This really worked for the next two days, then friends came to visit and it would have been unsociable to not have a drink with them - or two.  That's really all I had, but it was enough to lead to an orgy of pretzels, pizza and three really tasty chocolate donut holes.  


To make a long story short (I know, too late) in 5 short days I managed to pack on two pounds.  I also did not sleep well and had heartburn.  I sincerely hope I learned my lesson and will, in the future, be able to resist that second glass of wine.  I'm back home again and back on the stay-skinny wagon, never to fall off again (you read it here).

FIBROUS FACTS

Want the scoop on fiber and its role in a healthy functioning body?  Check out the story in this month's Life-Style magazine.http://www.rstylelife.com/

"I Lost It" again

Some of our readers have requested a repeat of the "I Lost It" article about Doris in the Tampa Tribune, so we are including a link here. 


Thanks to you all for your interest.http://www2.tbo.com/lifestyles/health-4-you/2011/sep/15/i-lost-it-i-decided-i-could-do-better-on-my-own-ar-257122/

THE CASE FOR VEGETARIANISM

The United Nations reports that raising animals for food (including grazing land and land used to grow feed crops) now uses a mind-boggling 30% of the Earth's land mass.  Over 260 million acres of U.S. forest...see more      http://www.rstylelife.com/

Well, we're late with our magazine again.  Come to think of it, last month was late so it's really been a month.  This is called rationalizing.  Or BS'ing, take your choice.


Anyway, we're chock full of recipes, healthy info and rib-ticklers so check us out. You can link from the picture here or the mag cover on the sidebar.  


Enjoy and let us know what you think of this month's effort.

DO YOU FEAR BEING THINNER?

I'm sure that many of us who have struggled to lose weight think that is a supremely stupid question, but let's think about that for a moment.

Most human behavior is a quest to satisfy some inner – and usually unrealized – desire. In other words, we wouldn't do it if we weren't, consciously or unconsciously, getting something out of it.

Consider people who go from one abusive relationship to another. Why would they do this? Perhaps because it satisfies some inner need to be punished for a real or imagined sin. How often do you hear one of them say, “It was my fault. I deserved it”. NOBODY deserves it. (My opinion.)

The same theory often applies to those who are overweight. They are well aware that they are harming their bodies – and quite possibly shortening their lives – by carrying around those excess pounds, but they seem unable to correct the situation. Maybe they've found a reason. Is it genetic? A glandular problem? Lack of support from family members? Or is it something else?

What are they getting out of being overweight? Well, for one thing, it gives them an excuse for failing, for being depressed and then indulging that old pleasure center in the brain that is demanding a couple of Snicker's Bars. People don't expect as much from you when you're fat, so it takes some of the pressure off. You don't have to think as much about what you're eating. You just eat what you want, and usually what you want is something quick and easy and plentiful – like fast food and bags of snacks.

Being slender and maintaining a healthy weight is a lot more work than just eating mindlessly. The payoff is a healthy, longer life that is living – not just existing. The payoff is being there for your loved ones and feeling great every day. The payoff is being grateful for the wonderful body you have been given and loving life.

Pretty good payoff, huh?

PAIN AND OBESITY

As though we needed another reason to maintain a healthy weight, take a look at the results of a February, 2012 Gallup Poll.  Called the Gallup Healthways Well-Being Index, it surveyed more than one million people in the U.S. and asked them questions about their height and weight and their pain conditions.


There was a large correlation between weight and pain perception.  Weight was graded per BMI into one of three obesity levels as defined by the World Health Organization.  BMI for a normal weight was under 25; overweight, 25-30; obese I, 30-35; obese II, 35-40; and obese III, 40 and above.


Overweight people reported 20% higher pain rate than normal people.  For the obese group the pain perception was 68% higher.  As the weight increased, so did the pain.  For the obese II and III groups the pain was 136% and 254% higher than the normal group.


The survey seems to strongly suggest that obesity alone is a condition that may cause pain, even without the presence of other painful diseases.


If you would like to figure out your BMI (Body Mass Index), here is the formula:

Pounds and inches	Formula: weight (lb) / [height (in)]2 x 703 Calculate BMI by dividing weight in pounds (lbs) by height in inches (in) squared and multiplying by a conversion factor of 703. Example: Weight = 150 lbs, Height = 5'5" (65") Calculation: [150 ÷ (65)2] x 703 = 24.96

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                                EARTH DAY - MAY 22, 2012

         It's so beautiful.   It's our duty and privilege to protect it.

         You've heard it before, but we'll say it again.  Our earth was not given to us by our parents, it was loaned to us by our children.

     What kind of legacy are we leaving for them?           

A SPRINKLE OF SALT

Is there nothing to which we can't become addicted?  Probably not.


We covered food addiction in general in the April edition of Life-Style, but now we would like to cover salt addiction.


Eating too much salt changes how your body makes and metabolizes fat.  Studies have shown that a high salt diet can boost the production of insulin, the hormone that tells the body to store fat.


Even if you don't salt your food, be aware that 80% of the sodium in an average diet comes from processed food, i.e. cereals, baked goods, soups, frozen dinners, pasta sauces, etc.  And you don't want to know how much is in fast food and restaurant meals.

Note: Sea salt is still salt

The 'RDA' for sodium is 2630 mg, per day, but this is based on a 2000 calorie diet; however, we need only about 2/3 teaspoon a day.  That is 1573 mg. of sodium.  Any more than that alters your brain chemistry.  Consuming salt triggers the release of dopamine, the Dr. Feelgood neurotransmitter in your brain's pleasure center.  Rack up another addiction.


Physicians tell their patients with high blood pressure to cut back on the consumption of salt - which is a good idea except that unless you remove all processed foods from your diet and never or rarely patronize a fast food establishment - it is almost impossible.  Those who have carefully watched their sodium intake will tell you that they now find most foods much too salty for their taste.


Eating whole foods will supply all the sodium you need.  For instance, a small stalk of celery has 49 mg., a medium carrot has 42 mg., a cup of  chopped spinach has 63 mg., a medium tomato has 5 mg., a cup of chopped curly kale has 29 mg.  If this all sounds like a salad - you're right.  Just add some low sodium salad dressing or salsa and you have a satisfying snack.  Toss in some beans and you've got lunch.

THE EVIL EASTER BUNNY STOLE OUR BRAINS!

That wascally wabbit snuck in when we weren't looking and kept us from including the link to the April issue of Life-Style.  For those of you who tried unsuccessfully to read the magazine, our apologies.  Please try again by clicking  on the magazine cover on the sidebar.  We have recovered most of our brains and all is now well.

STOP HOLDING YOUR BREATH. YOU'RE TURNING BLUE.

Just because we're a little late this month with the April issue of Life-Style doesn't mean you should injure yourself.  As often happens, life got in the way of our good intentions.


  Please forgive us and spend a little time (or a lot) perusing the pages of our April issue.  We've devoted nearly the whole issue to rainy days (we could use some here in Florida) and have included a yummy recipe and a thought-provoking article on food addiction.  Enjoy the art work we have provided and don't forget to look at the back cover of the mag.  We spend a lot of time finding just the right thing for the back cover and it occurred to us that maybe some folks aren't realizing there's anything back there.


ENJOY!

CELEBRATE SPRING WITH REFRESHING PEA SOUP

2 cups frozen or fresh peas
1 leek, halved and sliced thinly (white part only)
4 cups vegetable stock (low sodium)
1/2 t. dried tarragon
1 c. chopped romaine
1/4 t. salt
1/4 t. fresh ground pepper
1/2 c. buttermilk


Spray a pot with cooking spray and heat to medium.  Add leeks and stir and cook for 2-3 minutes.  Add stock, peas and tarragon and cook until peas are tender (4-6 minutes).  Add romaine, salt, and pepper and process in blender until smooth (or use immersion blender).  Return to pot, add buttermilk and heat.


Pour into bowl and garnish with a little plain, fat-free yogurt and a pinch of nutmeg.


Can be served hot or cold


Makes about 6 cups at less than 50 calories each.

CHANGE BEGINS WITH YOU

I had just about decided to never watch the news or read a newspaper or touch my computer.  All the news seemed really BAD, and I was frustrated that I couldn't really do anything about it.  I doubted that my measly vote would make a difference, although I sincerely wanted to vote everybody who was in - out

While going through my possible blog posts folder I came across the following,  which was written on the tomb of  an Anglican Bishop in Westminster Abbey (1100 A.D.):

"When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits, I dreamed of changing the world.  As I grew older and wiser, I discovered the world would not change, so I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change only my country.

"But it, too, seemed immovable.

"As I grew into my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt, I settled for changing only my family, those closest to me, but alas, they would have none of it.

"And now, as I lie on my deathbed, I suddenly realize; if I had only changed myself first, then by example I would have changed my family.

"From their inspiration and encouragement, I would then have been able to better my country and, who knows, I may have even changed the world."

What a concept!  If we all decided - before we were on our deathbeds - to start change within ourselves, what might we accomplish?

Energy efficient CFL light bulbs - what everyone should know

With thermometers, fluorescent bulbs & energy saving CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps) --- Short of calling the Haz-mat team to your home when one has broken it's important to be aware  of the "Clean-up" protocol and the effects these  mercury containing household items have on our  health and environment.

Investigate Magazine warns 
"The real cost is not one light bulb breakage, but how badly affected homes will be after 20 years of amateur attempts to clean up one of the deadliest neurotoxins on the planet. A generation of children crawling on mercury-infested carpets would give new meaning to the phrase, "dumbed-down". 


Check out page 4 of our March issue of LIFE-STYLE magazine for guidelines on properly "cleaning-up" and disposing of these light bulbs. Be patient the magazine will load in a moment or so.