Today is Easter Sunday

Mark16:5-7 when they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The women were shocked, but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn't here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid His body. Now go and tell His disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died.”

As I reflect on what this day means to me, I’m reminded of the moment I received the gift of salvation that Jesus bought for us. I was raised in a Christian home, but lost my interest when my Dad died; I was 13 years old, then. I told God I wasn't interested in serving a God who would steal a little girl’s daddy away from her. I didn't know much, then; I now know, my Dad wanted to go…he had been sick for so long (diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and high cholesterol), and he just wanted relief. I believe he’s in Heaven, and I’ll see him when I get there.

After I had walked away from God, I spent the next 18 years of my life, living for myself and struggling to maintain a sense of normalcy. I became a wild child! In today’s society, those children aren't looked down upon by many. They drink, do drugs, have sex with multiple partners, party too much, cuss at everyone and about everything; they’re disrespectful, rude, selfish, and spiteful. But, sadly, that’s the norm, these days….they’re just kids. I was one of them, back in the 80's and 90's, and my life was going nowhere, fast!

Fast forward to the year 2000. At the time I was reacquainted with God, I was living in a homeless shelter, and my two younger children were in Foster Care; my oldest daughter was living with her Dad. The powers that be were telling me I’d never see the two who were in Foster Care, again. I’m still not saved, at this time, so I believed what I saw, heard, felt, tasted, and touched. It was the lowest point in my life…no matter how hard I struggled to get back on my feet, the voices of reason were telling me it was hopeless. And, I was losing the will to fight.

While I was a resident of that shelter, I met a lady who was down on her luck; as a result of her misfortune, she became a resident, as well. She was a firm believer in God, and taught me about Jesus. She laid hands on people and made them well, when they were sick; she even gave one lady peace enough to cause her to sleep for 12 hours, after being awake for 4 days, straight. Every time she touched someone’s life, she’d say “In Jesus’ name!”, and she stood firm on the belief that God was going to make things right for all of us! I’d witnessed God’s power, and decided that wanted that in my life; she told me the only way to live in the power of the Holy Spirit was to get saved, and allow the Spirit to guide you.

I gave myself to Him, without hesitation! It was a moment, I can honestly describe in the words of Van Halen’s song, "Love Walks In"…

Contact is all it takes
To change your life to lose your place in time
Contact! Asleep or awake
Coming around you may wake up to find
Questions deep within your eyes,
Things you've never realized

[Chorus:]So when you sense a change
Nothing feels the same
All your dreams are strange, love comes walkin' in
Some kind of alien
Wait for the opening

Simply pulls a string…Love comes walkin’ in

A huge weight was lifted off my shoulders! I could BREATHE!! Everything looked different, too…the sky was bluer, the clouds were fluffier, the sun was brighter; and the birds sounded better, too! In prayer, the night I got saved, God told me to stop listening to the voices telling me I’d never see my kids again…He said I’d get them back. He was right!! Not only did I get my kids back, I got a job and a place for us to live! This Child of God was loving her life, once again!!

Since becoming a Believer, however, I have had moments where I've done things my own way, instead of the way God wants me to do; and those moments have always resulted in loss, confusion and a human struggle I could barely survive. The Bible warns us not to do things our way…

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT) Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

I guess my wild child habits were hard to break! LOL!!

The latest realization of this, being my recent diagnosis. I was supposed to begin eating as a flexitarian about nine years ago; God kept prompting me to change my diet, and only eat certain things; but, I always treated those moments as a time of fasting, rather than a lifestyle change. It was during this time that I got heavy into soy products, as well. Not listening to God’s instructions about my eating habits for that long, I’m now in the fight of my life…for my life! Lesson learned, trust me!!

With that said, I’d like to explain a little about what this day is all about. Jesus told Nicodemus, who was a Teacher of the Law of Moses, that in order to get to Heaven, we must be born again; and He explained what that meant, because Nicodemus was a little confused about it.

John3:1-17 (NLT) There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. 2 After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.”

3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

4 “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into His mother’s womb and be born again?”

5 Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. 7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”

9 “How are these things possible?” Nicodemus asked.

10 Jesus replied, “You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don’t understand these things? 11 I assure you, we tell you what we know and have seen, and yet you won’t believe our testimony. 12 But if you don’t believe me when I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.

16 “For God loved the world so much that he gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

When we surrender ourselves to God, and receive the gift that Jesus bought us, by way of His death on the cross and resurrection from the dead, we are born-again (or saved); we will be the ones going to Heaven, when we die. There is no preparation necessary for this moment; you don’t have to “clean up your act”, start going to church, give to charity, or anything. You just simply need to want what Jesus bought of you. Life will still be life, and at times it will be difficult…but having God on your side makes even the difficult moments, easier to navigate!

Let me back you up a little, and explain WHY we need to receive the gift of salvation…Romans 5:12-21 explains it pretty clearly:

Romans5:12-21 (NLT) When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. 13 Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break. 14 Still, everyone died—from the time of Adam to the time of Moses—even those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come. 15 But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and His gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. 16 And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. 17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and His gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.

18 Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. 19 Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.

20 God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. 21 So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

And, Paul mentions the purpose of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, in his letter to the church at Corinth, in 2 Corinthians 5:15-17…. "He died for everyone so that those who receive His new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. 16 So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!"

I have been a new person, since the year 2000…it’s about time I acted like it!! LOL! I do regret not living as that new person, until now; but the Bible says God can turn anything in something good for those who love Him.

Romans8:28 (NLT) And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.

And, He has…as a result of my decisions, and my recent diagnosis, I have the chance to get to know you! I've been given a great responsibility to not only share my story, and guide you to a healthier life, through proper nutrition…but, also to share Jesus with you! He truly is The Way, The Truth, and The Life (John 14:6).

I realize now, how much more complete my life is with Him. As I surrender myself to Him, daily, and learn to listen to God’s instruction, I am blessed more and more. It’s true, my life isn’t all that great…I have a terminal illness. I’m going to die, some day. But, while I live out the rest of my life, I will live for Him; and I’ve discovered that life isn’t all that bad, after all! LOL!!

Please consider receiving the gift of salvation that Jesus bought for you. I would love to see you in Heaven, some day! Don’t worry about not meeting me, in our human forms…we’ll recognize each other, there!

Let me also encourage you to watch The Passion of the Christ. It’s an account of what Jesus went through, the last few days of his life…and in giving Himself up for us. You'll want to turn the captions on, because the movie was done in Aramaic (I think). It is a bit graphic, as well; but, that only serves to drive the point home. He went through physical Hell, being beaten and hung on the cross; and then descended into Hell, itself, to beat Satan and free us from ourselves! There was an earthquake, as soon as Jesus died…I believe that was everyone who was in Hell, running for the door, when Jesus came in and asked, “Who wants to go Home with me?” LOL!!

Some scientists say they believe that this particular earthquake was global, and that it was responsible for creating all of the fault lines we now know about. The Bible does say the earth shook…

Matthew27:51-54 (NLT) At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, 52 and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead. 53 They left the cemetery after Jesus’ resurrection, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people.

54 The Roman officer and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, “This man truly was the Son of God!”

He is the Son of God; He loves you, and He wants you to know Him better…give Him the chance to transform you into a new person, today! And, don’t worry if you screw up…just ask for forgiveness, and put it behind you!

And, have a Happy Easter!! oxoxox

Hello. My name is Melissa Lee; and I’m an Addict.

I’m what’s known as an emotional eater…I eat when I’m sad, when I’m nervous, when I’m stressed out, and even when I’m happy. I don’t eat, because my body needs nourishment…I eat because it feels good. I've struggled with this most of my life; and even more so, now that I've been diagnosed with a terminal illness.

I recently watched a video (there's an article, too), detailing how the food industry cons us into eating the things that we know aren't good for us, but we find ourselves powerless against the cravings for these things; pizza, chips, fried foods, the Value Meal, macaroni and cheese, snack cakes, soda pop, etc. They are chemically altered, on purpose, to get us addicted to them. And, I’m an addict. On this video, they interview a fellow addict, and she briefly discusses how difficult it is to abstain from all of these gloriously wonderful foods. Trust me, she’s not kidding! I encourage you to check it out!

Father God, please forgive me… I've fallen off the wagon, again! My sister said to me, the other day, “there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy a treat, once in a blue moon”. Under normal circumstances, she’d be right…one slice of pizza, one small fry, or a small handful of chips, won’t hurt at all; and everyone knows you should never deprive yourself. That’s the easiest way to fail.

Unless you’re me; the easiest way to fail, in my case, would be to indulge…even if it’s just a small amount. In my case, it would be like telling an alcoholic that one little glass of wine, with dinner, isn't going to hurt. Everyone knows, to give an alcoholic ANY alcoholic beverage…even just a sip…is to set him back in his recovery, and will cause him to fall, again. And, I've been indulging, lately.

I don’t have the will power to stop at just a small amount. I've been indulging, from time to time, because there are those things in my sister’s house…and I've noticed I've been wanting more, and more. I've got to stop! I don’t want to “die happy” as so many people have said, when faced with the responsibility of giving up their junk food…they’d rather die happy. I’d rather LIVE happy, thank you very much! And, eating any amount of junk food is a trap, for me. I've got to stop myself!!

I can feel myself slipping back into old habits…and, I don’t want to go there!! I don’t want to die from Breast Cancer!! You don’t understand….I CAN’T say “No!”, unless I don’t see it. If I know it’s there, I want it; if I want it, I’ll eat it. I've been doing pretty good, so far; but I feel like I could be doing much better. And, just because someone who loves me gives me permission to indulge on rare occasion, doesn't mean I should. Father God, I need your help!!

Here’s a picture of me, before I was diagnosed. I weighed 251 lbs. This is what giving in to those foods has done to me…because I can’t stop at just a small amount.

I had my sister take a picture of me, this morning; it's been a little over a year, between photos. The darker hair, in the first picture, was a dye job.

Today, I weight 231 lbs. I don’t think my body has changed all that much, but I feel different; and I do look smaller, in comparison.  I can sense that changes are taking place, and I don’t want to ruin that, by going back into my old habits. I want to document my weight loss, because that’s part of my recovery journey. Losing weight will help in preventing a recurrence.

Now, I don’t fault my sister for trying…she means well; and love her for trying to make sense out of a situation that clearly doesn't. But, I know what my weaknesses are, and I know what I have to do to keep from falling off the wagon, again. I also know, I can’t do this without God! In 2 Corinthians 12:9, the Bible says “And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”

That’s me…I’m a weakling; a mere mortal. I know this, I’ve accepted this, and I can use this to bring glory to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

This is a list of some of the triggers I've had to come face to face with, lately…

•  I have Stage 4 Breast Cancer
• My estranged husband is being difficult (Lee is my maiden name)
•  I’m making plans to move south, but I’m not sure if I’m going to TN, or to GA (I have family in both states)
• I also don’t know how I’m going to get there, or how I’m going to go from homeless & broke, to self-sufficient & independent
• I want to have a job, but my doctors have me on disability, which hinders that whole independence thing
•  I need to get to the gym, so I can lose weight; but I’m dependent on a driver who doesn't like driving in bad weather (we've had a lot of that, lately)

As you can see, there’s really not a lot for me to stress out about (LOL!). Oy! I know God never gives us more than we can handle, but sometimes I wish He didn’t have so much confidence in me! LOL!!

This too, shall pass!!

Thanks for listening today. Have a blessed day, everyone!! oxoxox

Spring is Here...Allergy Season is Coming!!

With the onset of spring (although it certainly doesn't feel like it), we are now facing the upcoming seasonal allergy season. How many of you have allergies? Do you take any medications for them? Did you know you can fight them off, naturally?

I used to have bad allergies, to pollen and dust...now, it seems my allergies are more toward animal dander (my sister and brother-in-law have 2 dogs and a cat). As you know, I've been researching different methods on how to battle breast cancer, naturally; so, I figured I should research and see what methods there are to battling allergies, naturally, as well.

Here's what I've learned...

Best Health Magazine lists these methods:

1. Supplement with "healthy bacteria" (probiotics)
2. Load up on butterbur
3. Take more Vitamin C
4. Eat your onions
5. Supplement with fish oils
6. Look for adrenal support
7. Pay attention to your diet

A more in-depth explanation of each of these points can be found, here. Definitely worth the read!

And, the Farmers' Almanac says these foods are beneficial in the fight for relief from allergies:

1. Apple cider vinegar
2. Local honey
3. Lime
4. Chamomile tea
5. Garlic

Click here, to learn how to utilize them, and why they're beneficial.

The website Care2.com has some advice for us, as well. You can find that article by clicking this link. I love this site!!

And, Dr. Mercola has an entire library of information concerning allergies...anything from food allergies, to pollen/dust allergies, to pet allergies (no, I mean pets who HAVE allergies!), etc. I encourage you to check it out!

Mother Nature Network says there are 10 foods that fight spring allergies. On that article, they even list a recipe for "Allergy Soup"! I love when I can get a recipe AND some great advice, at the same time! LOL!!

HealthWithFood.org also has a wealth of information for us, concerning a nutritional approach to combating allergies. That article can be found, here. Some of the information may sound familiar! LOL!

There; you and I are now armed to the teeth with tons of information on how to fight off our allergies, the natural way, rather than relying on medications! Let's do this!! As you explore them, please feel free to comment on which ones work for you! I'd love to hear from you!

I'll try them out, too...and, I'll let you know which ones work for me!

Have a great day, and may God bless you!! oxoxox

Why Are We So Sick These Days??

For the last 80-some years (in some cases, longer), we've been listening to the powers that be tell us that this and that will cause a host of health issues, including heart disease, diabetes and high cholesterol/blood pressure; so we should eliminate *that* from our diet...or at least cut back on it! We've also been told that we should replace those things with their healthier options.

So, why have these medical issues become epidemics?? Because we've been listening to "them", instead of sticking with tried and true common sense nutrition.

In 1830, sugar consumption was 15 lbs per capita (most of it was molasses); today, we consume 150 lbs of sugar, per capita (most of it is high fructose corn syrup). In 1890, the obesity rate in the US (only white males, in their 50's) was only 3.4%; by 2009, it was reported that 32% of all Americans were obese. And diabetes has been around since the 1500's; but from 1980 through 2010, the number of Americans with diagnosed diabetes has more than tripled (from 5.6 million to 20.9 million). It's more common for an obese person to have diabetes, than for a person of ideal weight. High fructose corn syrup causes obesity, as well as other health concerns!

In 1902, Wilhelm Normann discovered that liquid oils can be hydrogenated, to create trans fatty acids. By 1957, the American Heart Association proposed that a reduction in dietary fats, namely saturated fats found in foods like butter and beef, can reduce the chance of getting heart disease. So, everyone switched to partially hydrogenated margarine.

In 1948, vegetable fat consumption was at 22 lbs. per capita. By 1976, it was at 55 lbs. per capita. As obesity and diabetes became public health issues, our consumption of of highly processed vegetable fats (including trans fatty acids) increased steadily, and consumption of animal fats has decreased. Dr. Mercola has a great article on the dangers of trans fats; you can read it, here.

Coincidentally (not that I believe in coincidence) but lard is a great source of Vitamin D, and a monounsaturated anti-microbial fatty acid called palmitoleic acid, that actually kills bacteria and viruses! And those same "experts" that told us animal fats were bad news, are now the ones over prescribing antibiotics, and other disease fighting drugs...they also say we're deficient in Vitamin D!

Do you see what I see? Those medical "experts" that gave us alternatives to the things that they said were bad for us, are the same ones who are inventing the medications we're being prescribed to help us manage the epidemics of diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol/blood pressure, etc.; all because we became sheep, and decided to take them at their word, and consume those "healthier" alternatives!

Salt is another thing..."they" tell us to reduce our sodium intake to avoid getting high blood pressure, or to lower it if we've already got it; but, have you seen the amount of sodium in some of these "healthy" foods??? And, "reduced sodium" or "low sodium" foods are higher in unhealthy fats, and/or sugar (mostly high fructose corn syrup), to make up for the lack of sodium.

Most of you know I'm following the Ketogenic Diet, now...low carb, high fat, moderate protein. In 1863, William Banting did the same thing, and published the Letter On Corpulence, Addressed to the Public. Mr. Banting had lost 85 pounds on a high fat, carbohydrate-restricted diet. But, the British Medical Journal and the Lancet reported that Banting's diet could be "dangerous"; they said, "We advise Mr. Banting, and everyone of his kind, not to meddle with medical literature again, but be content to mind his own business."

Mind his own business??? Shouldn't the health and well being of the people be the business of these medical "experts"?? Just what are they afraid of, anyway??

A loss of profits on the medications they've invented, to help us manage our illnesses, for one....they're the ones who caused those diseases to become the epidemics they are, in the first place, by telling us those things that are bad for us are good, and things that are good for us are bad. And we listened!! 

Harry S. Truman once said, “If you can't convince them, confuse them.” I'm not sure what that was in reference to, but "they" took it to heart...and we paid the price!!

The Bible says, in Isaiah 5:20 (NLT), "What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter." I've always believed that this means God's not at all pleased with people who lie, and take advantage of others' trust; so, when our beloved "experts" face their Maker (and we all will!), they're going to have to answer for why they chose to lie to us, and make us sick, for the sake of profits!

In my experience of becoming one of their Lab Rats, and developing a disease because I bought into their lies, too...I've learned to question EVERYTHING!! And, I encourage you to do the same...don't even take my word at face value; do your own research!

Are you ready for the truth??

Dropping the Bomb

I've been asked by Suzan St. Maur to discuss how I broke the news of my diagnosis to my children. It wasn't easy, but they made it through the initial blow.

All of my children are grown. My oldest daughter is 25 yrs old, married, and living in Alcoa, Tennessee. My son is 22, and lives in Canton, OH. And my youngest daughter is 19, and living in near Atlanta, Georgia (and she's due to give birth to my 1st Grandchild, in July!); although, she was visiting me in Alliance, OH, when I was newly diagnosed.....July 3, 2012.

I was living in Alliance, to help a niece of mine build her new business; she owns a small cafe', and has only been in business for a couple years, now. I lived above the cafe', and helped out in the kitchen and with the customers...I basically did everything she did. It was during this time that my body began to shut down...I lost all feeling from my waist to my knees, and was having difficulty moving around. And boy, was I in PAIN!!

My youngest daughter was visiting me, at this time, and I finally decided it was time to find out what was going on with my body. She helped me get dressed; and then she helped me walk down a flight of steps, and out to the bus stop. The bus driver was great, too...he put the wheelchair lift down for me, so I wouldn't have to walk up the steps to get in! The ride to the local hospital was agony!! When there's something wrong with your back, bus rides and ambulance rides are NO FUN!! LOL!

In the ER, at Alliance Community Hospital, they took x-rays and blood tests (my vitals were good). And, after a while a doctor came in and broke the news...in front of my little girl (I know...19 isn't so little, but still)!! He said he believed it was Multiple Myeloma, because the tumors he saw were attached to my vertebrae. I remained calm, but my poor daughter just about hyperventilated!

Mommy's dying??? No..."relax, honey...it's just a few 'blobs'. The doctor's will know how to get them out of me, and I'll be fine!" I didn't like having to down play what was happening, but she literally looked like she was about to have a heart attack, after the doctor revealed his findings!

I was swept away to Akron General Medical Center, because the hospital in Alliance was not equipped to deal with what I was presumed to have; Akron General has a stellar cancer team, and all the necessary equipment to properly diagnose me! My youngest daughter came with me, to Akron, as well.

More tests...x-rays, CAT Scan, MRI (not fun!), blood work, etc. The Oncologist I was assigned to is a doll (honestly, my whole team was!) He introduced himself to both of us, and talked to both of us about what he discovered; I think my daughter felt better, once she was included in on conversation. He said there were tumors all over my ribs, up and down my spine, and in my hips...but he thinks it's breast cancer. He also told me that my 5th lumbar vertebrae was all but destroyed, so I was going to need surgery to remove it.

I watched her face, as all of this was being explained to us. Her head was spinning, but the look in her eyes was what I focused on the most..."I don't care what you have to do, just don't let my Mommy die!" Watching her world crumble down around her, was harder to handle than being told I had cancer.

After all of this had settled in, she called her sister, and broke the news; my niece (owner of the cafe') told my son...he was staying at her house, at the time. They all came to the hospital to see me, too!

The looks on their faces weren't any more uplifting, than my youngest daughter's. It took me a while to get up the courage to tell everyone to stop looking at me like I'm already dead. I couldn't stand that look in their eyes...not just my children's faces, but my whole family!!

As I discussed things with my older two (two separate occasions) they became more at ease with the whole deal. I told them what the diagnosis was, and what the doctor said my treatment plan would include....surgery, chemo, and possibly radiation. I had very nice visits with all my kids!

The mammogram, and biopsy, confirmed that it was indeed Stage 4 Breast Cancer; I had a massive tumor in my left breast; and tumors of varied sizes in the lymph nodes of my left arm pit, as well as all the way down my spinal column (from my neck to my tailbone), and in my ribs and hips. And, I maintained, (to all three of my children) that they're just 'blobs' and I'll be fine. It's been 8 months, since my diagnosis....they are still just blobs, and they're almost gone!!

My children are all back in their own environments, now. My oldest daughter, while visiting me, not only prayed over me...she also prayed, privately, and received a Word from the Lord that I wasn't going to die (John 11:3-4 NIV); so, every time I update them on my progress, we do the Happy Dance, together; and give God the praise He deserves! LOL!!

I'm Still Here!!

Sorry for the absence, folks....I've been a bit busy, these days! LOL! My wish for you, today, is that your St. Patty's Day celebration is everything you hoped for, and then some!

I woke up, this morning, with a great idea, and I hope that all of you participate! In order for you to participate, though, I must ask you a question...what would you like me to Blog about? 

That's right....I want YOU to come up with topics for my Blog!

The only rule is...it has to be health related; it can be about any health related subject (disease, exercise, nutrition, etc), including an elaboration of a Blog I've already posted, or one that you've already posted! You decide!!

With every suggested Blog topic, I will be giving you credit for the topic, and linking back to your Google+ profile (or Blog, if that's the topic).

Leave your suggestions in the comments section below, and I'll get right on it! I know I'm connected to a large number of people, but I do want everyone to participate!! LOL!

I hope to hear from all of you! Have a blessed day!! oxoxox

The Ketogenic Diet - What I've Learned

Our body's run on glucose, like a vehicle runs on gasoline; and our "tanks" have a 24-hour supply of glucose, at the ready; so, if you don't eat carbs on a regular basis, you'll run out of fuel...right?

Not necessarily! I've been researching this nutritional therapy plan, called The Ketogenic Diet, that teaches how to switch from "regular gas" to "diesel" (if you will) and still function normally, throughout the day. The Ketogenic Diet forces your body to burn fat as your primary fuel source, rather than glucose, because it's a low carb, high fat, moderate protein eating plan.

The Ketogenic Diet Pyramid

It's been said that this lifestyle plan can cure epilepsy, as well as cancer, and a host of other health issues. About 2/3 of our brain is composed of fat...specifically, fatty acids; so, the more fats, and fatty acids, you have in your diet, the better your brain will function.

As far as being the cure for cancer, it stands to reason...sugar feeds cancer cells. Carbs break down into sugars, in our bodies; so, if you limit the amount of carbs you eat, you will starve the disease. This eating plan can also help you lose weight! Simple, right?

Not if you're a caboholic, like me!! LOL! The Mayo Clinic says that a low carb diet would allow for 50g - 150g of carbs, per day. My favorite multi-grain pasta is 38g all by itself!! However, I'm planning on putting this lifestyle change to the test; incorporating what I've learned about alkalizing foods, and this eating plan, I should be able to stay cancer free! And I can't wait to be a size 10, again!! LOL!

Here's how the Ketogenic Diet works...

Ketones are a substance that your body makes, when it uses fat as your primary source of energy, rather than glucose. If you are diabetic, and choose this lifestyle, please make sure to discuss this with your doctor...too many ketones in your body could be dangerous!

Remember, back in the day, when everyone said a reduced fat diet was healthier for us?? They grouped all fats in the "dangerous" category...whether they were good fats, or bad fats. I did a Blog about the difference between fats. Not all fats are bad for you! The good ones do a lot of beneficial things to your body; the "bad" fats do, too, as a matter of fact!

A high fat diet is said to be very healthy for you, when you keep the carbs at bay. A diet high in clean saturated fats, and low in carbohydrates actually raises your good cholesterol and lowers your triglycerides, according to the Ketogenic Diet Resource page. This site lists a great deal of benefits from this particular lifestyle plan! It also has menu plans!

Now why would the powers that be tell us that all fats are bad, and we should limit our fat intake, when fats actually do a lot of good to the human condition?? Two words....Big Pharma. Whenever there's a buzz about this and that medical condition, no one stops to figure out why that medical condition exists...they just create a pill to help us "manage" those conditions. And, they even have pills to combat the side effects of the disease management drugs!! It's all about money, folks!! Believe it or not, most of the diseases and conditions we suffer from are metabolic (they happened because we don't eat properly!)

Your fats should come from high quality sources...regardless of whether it's a saturated fat, or a "good" fat. Quality is key! Eat grass-fed animal products (meat & dairy), make sure your pork products are uncured (no nitrites or nitrates), eat full fat dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt, etc). Consume LOTS of organic, non-GMO (non-starchy) veggies, and limit the amount of fruits, grains, cereals, breads, etc. that you eat.

If you're suffering from insulin resistance, the Ketogenic Diet just might be the answer to your prayers, as well!

I'm currently trying to figure out how to navigate the low carb part of this eating plan (notice I don't call it a "diet"?). Fruits are carbs; they're also anti-estrogenic (most of them). So, I'm thinking...in terms of the "low carb" part of this, I'll eat fruits as my 50g - 150g of carbs per day....cutting out rice, starchy veggies, and all grains (or maybe replacing a fruit with one of them, from time to time). I'm going to have to make sure that whatever I use in place of a piece of fruit, will be high quality, though...no corn syrup, or processed grains.

It's time to take back our lives, reverse these health issues we're being taught to manage; and live healthy, and drug free, once again!!

Happy Meatless Monday!!

Hi, everyone!! Happy Meatless Monday! I've started experimenting with different recipes I find on the web; so, this is my first official foodie Blog. Yay, me!! Please excuse the amateur photography! LOL!

This evening I made Moo Shu Vegetables.

It didn't turn out too bad...it was pretty good, actually!! I think I'll scale down on the sesame oil, next time. And, instead of the grilling sauce, I used BBQ sauce; I also cooked it for a little longer than the recipes says to, so I'll probably shorten the time, as well.

This recipe fed 4, and there's plenty of leftovers, for another time...as you can see, by the photo of the frying pan! LOL!!

Here's the recipe....

Moo Shu Vegetables

This was taken after we all filled our plates! Leftovers!!

Moo Shu Vegetables

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons smoky spicy grilling sauce (such as House of Tsang)
• 1 tablespoon olive or coconut oil
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
• 2 tablespoons ground ginger
• 1 bag (10 ounces) coleslaw mix
• 1 bag (8 ounces) shredded carrots
• 4 ounces sliced mixed mushrooms
• 1 cup bean sprouts
• 1/2 cup vegetable broth
• 6 scallions, sliced
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 10 whole-wheat flour tortillas (such as Mission Life Balance)

Directions

1. In a large nonstick skillet or wok, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add garlic and ginger and cook 30 seconds. Add coleslaw mix, carrots, mushrooms, bean sprouts and the broth. Cook, stirring frequently, for 8 minutes.
2. Stir in the scallions, and sesame oil.
3. Serve with slightly warmed tortillas.

I hope you enjoy this!! Please let me know what you think, when you fix this for your family! God bless!!

The toothpick was put in place for the sake of the photo! LOL!

Margarine vs Butter vs What the Heck??

Anyone ever have just coffee (or tea) and toast for breakfast? I like to spread my toast with some butter and fruit spread, most of the time.

Since becoming The Savvy Survivor, a niece of mine forwarded some information on the differences between margarine and butter, and said she hoped I could use this info in one of my blogs. So, here it is!

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Margarine was originally manufactured to fatten turkeys. When it killed the turkeys, the people who had put all the money into the research wanted a payback so they put their heads together to figure out what to do with this product to get their money back.

It was a white substance with no food appeal so they added the yellow colouring and sold it to people to use in place of butter. How do you like it? They have come out with some clever new flavourings....

DO YOU KNOW.. The difference between margarine and butter?

Read on to the end...gets very interesting!

Both have the same amount of calories.
Butter is slightly higher in saturated fats at 8 grams; compared to 5 grams for margarine.

Eating margarine can increase heart disease in women by 53% over eating the same amount of butter, according to a recent Harvard Medical Study.


Eating butter increases the absorption of many other nutrients in other foods.
Butter has many nutritional benefits where margarine has a few and only because they are added!

Butter tastes much better than margarine and it can enhance the flavours of other foods.

Butter has been around for centuries where margarine has been around for less than 100 years .

And now, for Margarine..

Very High in Trans fatty acids.

Triples risk of coronary heart disease ...

Increases total cholesterol and LDL (this is the bad cholesterol) and lowers HDL cholesterol, (the good cholesterol)

Increases the risk of cancers up to five times..

Lowers quality of breast milk

Decreases immune response.

Decreases insulin response.

And here's the most disturbing fact... HERE IS THE PART THAT IS VERY INTERESTING!

Margarine is but ONE MOLECULE away from being PLASTIC... and shares 27 ingredients with PAINT.

These facts alone were enough to have me avoiding margarine for life and anything else that is hydrogenated (this means hydrogen is added, changing the molecular structure of the substance).

Open a tub of margarine and leave it open in your garage or shaded area. Within a couple of days you will notice a couple of things:


* no flies, not even those pesky fruit flies will go near it (that should tell you something)


* it does not rot or smell differently because it has no nutritional value ; nothing will grow on it. Even those teeny weeny microorganisms will not a find a home to grow.


Why? Because it is nearly plastic . Would you melt your Tupperware and spread that on your toast?


Share This With Your Friends.....(If you want to butter them up')!

Chinese Proverb:
When someone shares something of value with you and you benefit from it, you have a moral obligation to share it with others. 

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And now....a comparison of ingredients between some of the nations leading margarines, butter, and stuff I call "What the heck??" Those are supposed to be good for us, because of key ingredients...but they're really no better than margarine.

 Country Crock Margarine...  

Ingredients (16):

Vegetable(s) Oil Blend (Soybean(s) Oil Liquid, Soybean(s) Oil Partially Hydrogenated, Cottonseed Oil Hydrogenated) , Water, Salt, Soy Lecithin (Potassium Sorbate, Calcium Disodium EDTA Used to protect quality) , Whey (Milk) , Vegetable(s) Mono and Diglycerides, Flavor(s) Artificial, Beta Carotene color(s), Citric Acid, Vitamin A Palmitate

Right off the bat, I can't eat this....soybean oil; and anything that's "partially hydrogenated" or "hydrogenated" is a Trans fat...and WILL clog your arteries! Mono- and Diglycerides are emulsifiers...and another trans fat! Artificial flavors...what??? Artificial flavors from....where? Too vague for me! There are also hidden sources of MSG, in this product...do your homework!

Blue Bonnet Margarine...

Ingredients (15):

Water, Soybean(s) Oil Liquid, Soybean(s) Oil Partially Hydrogenated, Salt, Whey, Vegetable(s) Monoglycerides, Soy Lecithin, Propylene Glycol Monostearate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Calcium Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Flavor(s) Natural & Artificial, Vitamin A Palmitate, Beta Carotene color(s)

Again...soybean oil, and it's partially hydrogenated, too! Ok, wait...there's what in this stuff?? Does that say "Propylene Glycol Monostearate"?? Folks...that's an emulsifying agent found in cosmetics and personal care products!! Ewww!!

EDTA is short for Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (and I'm not even going to attempt to pronounce that! LOL!) Calcium Disodium EDTA is made from poisons and chelation chemicals; you can read all about this wonderful ingredient, here. And, again with the vague terms....natural & artificial flavors.

Next....

The folks on the Benecol website tout this as containing "a plant-derived ingredient that actually lowers your cholesterol" It even brags about it, on the package!

LIES!!! Read the ingredients...

Ingredients (15):

Canola Oil Liquid, Water, Soybean(s) Oil Partially Hydrogenated, Plant Sterol Esters, Salt, Emulsifier(s) (Vegetable(s) Mono and Diglycerides, Soy Lecithin) , Soybean(s) Oil Hydrogenated, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid and Calcium Disodium EDTA To Preserve Freshness, Flavor(s) Artificial, Di Alpha Tocopherol Acetate, Vitamin A Palmitate, Colored With Beta Carotene

Do you see it?? Hydrogenated, and partially hydrogenated ANYTHING will increase your cholesterol...not lower it!!

Add that to all our other "favorite" ingredients, and I'd say this one goes on the "Ain't Happening" list, as well! LOL!

And, here we have butter....

Ingredients (2):

Cream Sweet Pasteurized, Salt

Well....finally! Ingredients I can pronounce; and, I know where they come from, too...no need for research, here! I think we have a winner, folks!!

Here's a few more brands of butter, with only those two ingredients...

I've never heard of this brand, but I thought the package was lovely!

Butter really is the best choice! As always, I will encourage you to investigate in order to find quality butter made from the milk of grass-fed animals; that's the best quality, and most nutrient dense, of all creamery butters.

And now...my "What the heck??" moment. This next product is touted as being super beneficial, because it's mixed with extra virgin olive oil; that's not the only thing it's mixed with...

Ingredients (17):

Butter Blend of Natural Vegetable Oils (Palm Fruit, Soybean(s), Flax Seed, Olive Oil Extra Virgin) , Water, Fish Oil, Contains less than 22% of Salt, Soybean(s) Lecithin, Flavor(s) Natural, Whey, Lactic Acid, Vegetable(s) Monoglycerides, Sorbitan Ester of Fatty Acids, Di Alpha Tocopherol Acetate, Vitamin A Palmitate, Beta Carotene

Natural Vegetable Oils....like soybean oil (can't do it!); flax seed oil is good and there's water in this. Wait...do I see what I think I see?? FISH OIL??? Now, fish oil is very good for you...but what's doing in a vegetable oil blend? Oh my!

Ok, moving on....more soy (soybeans and lecithin), natural flavors (still waiting for someone to tell me where these come from); monoglycerides...ok...don't let the "vegetable" notion fool you, folks, it's still bad news!!

Sorbitan Ester of Fatty Acids....used as a surfactant, an emulsifier, a buffering agent, a defoaming agent, a synthetic flavoring, a stabilizer and a lubricant. Ok...back up!! A defoaming agent?? I think I've just lot my appetite!! At least I now have a better idea of where "natural & artificial flavors" come from! LOL!! Here's some more info for ya!

I also understand why they used that in this product...water and oil don't mix, unless you force them to; hence, the need for a stabilizer/emulsifier.

Personally, I don't care how good vegetable spreads, margarine, and "blends" taste...pass the BUTTER, please!!

And, have a blessed day!! oxoxox