I'm going to start Jogging!

Jogging!!! Yep this is a big step for me. :)
I have been walking all winter and I have finally realized I can do more. I have already added Yoga to my plate, but I feel I need to push myself now.
I can't exactly start jogging today because I need the right equipment. I was jogging in place in front of my bedroom mirror and HOLY COW do I need support clothes!!!! lol
There is no way you will be seeing me out jogging with everything I don't want people to see jiggling!
Great thing about this big health movement is there are tons of jogging clothes to choose from now. When I started seriously walking, I bought a pair of Reebok Easy Tone Renew shoes. I love these shoes!

They are super light, breath really well, and have those balance balls on the bottom. It was kinda weird getting used to them, but it only took me a few times walking before I was comfortable. I have almost worn them out! They are also not designed for running, so I am looking into the Reebok YourFlex Run.

These shoes are not too terribly expensive either. I couldn't believe the prices of some designer running shoes out there! Sheesh, lady on a budget here!

Next piece of attire I need to look into is the sports bra. Are you one of those girls who needs to try these things on before you buy them? Me too! I am not sure how buying these online is going to work, but I do know that Old Navy is pretty true to their sizes. I have never sent anything back to exchange yet! Old Navy's selection of active ware is pretty decent and reasonably priced, so I will order though them first.

So have you heard of the iPod/iPhone app called Couch to 5k?

Its a really awesome app that works with your music on your iPhone! Here's one way it is broken down... ( there are different types)

This is an awesome way to work yourself up to jogging without straining yourself!!! If I am hurting because I did a major huge workout the day before, sometimes its hard to get myself motivated to do it again. I might not exercise at all for a few days until I stop hurting! That's not the best cycle for anybody tying to get in shape. With the Couch to 5k program ( which you can do without an iPhone just by timing yourself) you can work your stamina up slowly. :) I totally do this on my Gazelle! If you have a treadmill, this program would be great too!

As soon as get geared up for jogging I will blog about it. I'm sure its going to be totally different than in the house. lol

Diet Coke Addict No More!

Ok, so for years, and I mean in excess of 15 years, I have been a Diet Coke addict! I truly enjoy Diet Coke. It tastes good, its refreshing, and it gave me energy ( I thought)! At points I would drink a six pack or more a day! Yes, I am ashamed.... I was younger, I had two little kids, it was just easy to grab a Diet Coke and get that boost of energy I needed.
 About 2 years ago my brother-n-law was having really bad joint pain. He stumbled on an article on the Internet about diet soda, in particular Diet Coke, having bad side-effects on your body. He was also a Diet Coke drinker. He read that drinking Diet coke can give you chronic joint pain among other symptoms:

Constant headaches
Almost weekly Migraines
Stiff neck
Overly dry skin and hair
Memory loss
Extreme fatigue
Lack of concentration

He stopped drinking a Diet Coke and his symptoms of joint pain started to go away! Awhile later he shared this with me because I was complaining about my knees hurting so bad at night. I researched it myself and I was amazed at all the symptoms I shared with Diet Coke drinkers! I never would have thought about it if it wasn't for my brother-n-law.

Aspartame Side Effects
I have read that there are over 92 side effects of Aspartame. Wow!

Marketed as 'NutraSweet,' 'Equal,' and 'Spoonful.'

Aspartame is a man-made, high intensity, non-caloric sweetener, used extensively worldwide in over 5,000 products.

Aspartame Is TOXIC To The Body!
Upon ingestion, aspartame is metabolized to two amino acids (phenylalanine and aspartic acid) and methanol. (Trefz) Methanol qualifies as an exceptionally toxic substance, even at very low doses. (Roe) The minimum methanol amount needed to cause death (without medical treatment) is 300-1000 mg./kg. This is equivalent to only 0.85 - 2.85 oz. for a 154 lb. (70 kg.) man (much less for a child). (Kavet)

The absorption of methanol into the body speeds up considerably when aspartame is heated. This occurs when aspartame-containing product is improperly stored or when it is cooked or heated (e.g., as part of a "food" product such as sugar-free gelatin or pudding).
The formaldehyde stores in the fat cells, particularly in the hips and thighs. According to the EPA, methanol is considered a cumulative poison due to its low rate of excretion once it is absorbed. They recommend limiting consumption to 7.8 mg./day. A one-liter, aspartame-sweetened beverage contains about 56 mg. of methanol- 7 times over the safe limit. (Monte)
Aspartame accounts for over 75% of the adverse reactions to food additives reported to the U.S. Federal Drug Agency (F.D.A.). A February 1994 Department of Health and Human Services report the following portion of the 90 different documented Aspartame negative effects: (Kavet, Monte)

You can read many articles about Aspartame by Googling Aspartame Side Effects.

I am by all means not saying that I am not going to eat things that have Aspartame in them, but I am sure trying not to. I did have a Diet Dr. Pepper just last night! lol And alot of Sugar-free products out there are still only produced using Aspartame.
I am, how ever, trying to use products, or make products using Stevia instead!!!!

Stevia: Healthy Alternative to Sugar and Aspartame

Stevia comes from the dried leaves of the stevia plant. It is an excellent natural alternative to sugar. It has no calories, has none of the side effects or health risks of sugar, aspartame and saccharin and is not broken down by heat.
The natives in South America used stevia primarily as a sweetener, a practice adopted by European colonists in local regions. The indigenous tribes also used stevia to treat diabetes. (Leung)
Stevia accounts for nearly 40% of the sweetener market in Japan. Due to more strict safety restrictions, aspartame and saccharin are banned.
In the United States, stevia is not marketed as a sweetener, but as a dietary supplement due to federal regulations.

Since I have stopped consuming Diet Coke my joint pain is down at least 80%! I no longer have to sleep with my legs and elbows straitened out! Oh yeah, it was that bad. :(
I am positive I do not have as many headaches that I did a year ago and I know, (because I have been eating healthier too), that I have way more energy than I did a year ago!!! Without Diet Coke!!!

All in all, you can't go wrong with cutting down on the diet soda and aspartame.

I can't live without bread!!!! lol

I was at Bob's IGA, (in Wrangell), the other day and I came across Bob's Red Mill GF Bread mix

for the Bread Machine!!! Yay!!! I was making my bread by hand before. I don't mind making bread from scratch, but I wouldn't make it often. (Twice, I think ). Anywhoo, I popped this bad boy in my bread machine and three hours later.......

I had Gluten Free Bread!!! I ate a wonderful Turkey Sand with Cream Cheese and Baby Spinach this afternoon. :)

Thank goodness for Bob's Red Mill Brand Gluten Free Products. The flavor of the bread is wonderful, the texture is just a tiny bit grainier than white bread, and the sponginess is perfect. The bread cuts nicely with my electric bread knife and stiff spreads do not tear the bread up. :)  I am going to use this loaf over this weekend and see how well it holds up.

Fat Free vs Sugar Free

I know this has been written about time and time again, but I was still confused about this subject for a very long while!
Dieting can be overwhelming with the variety of "healthier" versions of a products there are. Take Carnation liquid creamer for instance; there is a Fat Free version and a Sugar Free version!!! Which one is better for you? Typically when making a product with less fat they add more sugar and vice versa. Take a look at the labels and check out the carb content on the Fat Free Creamer! Its higher than the sugar free because it has more sugars in it! I choose to eat sugar free and here is a great chart explaining why!