Hey all,
I thought I would do a post that could really benefit the healthy conversation. You all have seen my thoughts and input on a variety of issues, but I would like to hear from you! So, I have decided to dedicate this blog to asking you some questions about what you do, know, think, feel, and like as it pertains to health and well-being. I hope I will get lots of responses, as that would make for great conversations and great future posts! I really look forward to hearing from many of you! Thanks!
1. What do you consider a healthy breakfast?
Eggs, for sure…the whole thing…several…fried in coconut oil or butter…some beef bacon (since I don’t eat pork) or some turkey bacon. Sometimes some in-season berries! Yum!
2. What type of activity and exercise do you get during the week?
I am constantly standing and moving at work. I climb, walk, and use tools. At lunch, I walk and lunge, with an occasional sprint. A few days a week, I do bursts of intense pushing, pulling, weights, and step-ups. I will also occasionally do some P90X workouts and some Wii games.
3. Do you use supplements? If so, what?
Yes. I love cod liver oil. I also use coral calcium, B Complex, Vitamin D, and some echinacea now and then. Oh, and also, COQ10!
4. Do you have any health issues you would like to get rid of?
Seasonal Allergies…sometimes.
5. How many hours of sleep do you generally get per night?
7 to 8 usually. During the week I go to bed at around 11 pm and I wake up at 7:45 am. During the weekends, I am not so good. I go to bed late, but I still wake up before 11:00 am regardless!
6. Do you drink soda or diet soda? If so, what kind and how much?
No…only an occasional Zevia. I do drink tea sometimes…and a Zip Fizz (no sugar, no artificial ingredients, just vitamins and minerals)…and an occasional Kombucha
7. Do you drink water? If so, is it filtered, bottled, or tap? How much?
Yes. I drink bottled water (if it was completely up to me, I’d drink from an awesome filter…but it’s not…so I drink bottled water). I drink about 4-6 16oz bottles a day.
8. Do you believe that eating saturated fat will make you fat?
HECK NO! Eating fat does just the opposite. It is the hydrogenated oils and fake fats that will help make you fat and clog your arteries!
9. Do you know what essential macronutrients are?
I do…but I want to see how many of you know the answer to this, so I’m not answering quite yet!
10. Do you believe humans need to eat carbohydrates?
See above.
11. What are carbohydrates? Give examples.
See above.
12. Do you think sugar is toxic?
Uhhh….ABSOLUTELY…and so is HFCS and Aspartame!
13. Do you believe that high-cholesterol and foods that contain cholesterol will give you heart disease?
See numbers 9-11 (hint: think beyond big pharma)
14. Do you eat the fat on meat?
Yup…especially that of grass-fed, pastured, and wild meats!
15. Do you eat meat? If so, what kind? If not, why?
Yes. Grass-fed beef, pastured chicken, lamb, wild-caught fish, and I’m willing to try others except pork…I’m allergic to shellfish, and pork makes my tummy hurt.
16. Do you know a farmer?
Yes
17. Are you interested in buying meats, milks, and veggies from a local farmer?
Yes!!!!! Anybody wanna go in on a cow-share or CSA type situation with me?
18. Do you eat out? If so, how often?
Yes, more than I should, but it is with my wonderful hubby.
19. When you eat out, what types of food and drinks do you order?
I order the best meat I possibly can, hold the starch and grains, and get a salad or some veggies for the side. I drink tea or water…with an occasional Michelob Ultra or Vodka and Water.
20. Did you know that the USDA and FDA are not on the side of public health and well-being?
HECK YEAH! THESE PEOPLE JUST WANT TO MAKE AND KEEP US SICK TO KEEP THEIR POCKETS LINED!
So, there are the questions and my answers. I hope to hear from some of you now! I am really looking forward to it!
Thanks and have a healthy day!
Rachel
alternefit 
I thought I’d answer as many of these questions as I can!
1. What do you consider a healthy breakfast?
Look, I totally canNOT eat first thing in the morning. So, for me an ideal breakfast is a smoothie. I’m going to start wandering into smoothie land in the next couple of weeks- going to start out with a basic yogurt berry banana thing or something. Or one of these: http://www.menshealth.com/smoothies/?cm_mmc=ABSNL-_-630084-_-07042011-_-dek
2. What type of activity and exercise do you get during the week?
I hang our laundry out every week (5-7 loads, sometimes more). I swim, chase kids, clean our church, sometimes clean house, garden, any yard work Andrew needs help with, and any building/construction stuff he needs help with. We’re fixing to get started on building a deck for the pool, and maybe gutting both bathrooms and redoing them. And tomorrow I’m going out (and with Zack’s help) build an enclosure for my garden.
3. Do you use supplements? If so, what?
St. John’s Wort, Niacin, & a B complex. And chocolate. 😉
4. Do you have any health issues you would like to get rid of?
Chronic earaches, depression, weight issues, carpal tunnel/arthritis/nerve damage, and my memory (once amazing) is now shot. Um. Pick a body part and I probably want to improve it.
5. How many hours of sleep do you generally get per night?
Anywhere from 2-8 hours any given night. Depends on if my ears are giving me trouble again, if I’ve had any caffeine after 11 am, or just can’t sleep. And I don’t normally wake up feeling rested.
6. Do you drink soda or diet soda? If so, what kind and how much?
Not gonna lie- if I could, I’d live exclusively on diet coke and coffee (and Promise Land Midnight Dark Chocolate Milk. Or Braum’s chocolate milk). But I don’t drink either one as much as I’d really like to. As for what and how much, it varies- on what’s on hand at home, and what was on sale at the store.
7. Do you drink water? If so, is it filtered, bottled, or tap? How much?
I drink tap water, sometimes with a shot of lemon/lime. I really prefer Nestle Pure Life flavored water (berry flavored), and could almost bathe in it, given half a chance.
8. Do you believe that eating saturated fat will make you fat?
I think- everything in moderation, with an active healthy lifestyle, and you can pretty much eat whatever you want. ‘Cause it doesn’t much matter- you can sit there and binge on calorie frree veggies all day, but if all you do is sit on your butt, you’re not going to get healthy.
9. Do you know what essential macronutrients are?
Big nutrients? Like Godzilla? =p
10. Do you believe humans need to eat carbohydrates?
Not sure I’d throw “need” around much. I DO love potatoes, though. And whatever food group dark chocolate is. That food group is my favorite.
11. What are carbohydrates? Give examples.
Fast burning sugars. Grains, potatoes, peas, gravies, are all examples of carbs.
12. Do you think sugar is toxic?
I think sugar can is OK- I’ve bought it for my kids, for a special treat. But the way it’s processed (and is mostly not sugar cane) isn’t a good thing. (Except maybe in chocolate. =p)
13. Do you believe that high-cholesterol and foods that contain cholesterol will give you heart disease?
No. High cholesterol is caused by the body producing too much of it.
14. Do you eat the fat on meat?
Yes, and Andrew’s as well, but only when it’s all good and crispy. Used to wrestle my great grandmother over the fat, but she was always nice and shared (yes, the problem we me- I guess I’ve always been kind of a jerk). It totally grosses Andrew out to see me munching happily on fat. But, he grosses me out when he mixes his cake and ice cream all together, so we’re even.
15. Do you eat meat? If so, what kind? If not, why?
Yes, and almost everything except organ meat. Can’t stand the stuff. And I’m really funny about fish, but will try almost anything once. One of my favorite things, that I never get any more is duck eggs. Ever had them? They’re a bazillion times better than chicken eggs.
16. Do you know a farmer?
Yes- I have an uncle that’s a retired farmer.l
17. Are you interested in buying meats, milks, and veggies from a local farmer?
Would depend on the cost- we’re on a tight budget here in Brokeville.
18. Do you eat out? If so, how often?
Now and again. Honestly, the biggest reason I like to eat out is someone else cleans up the mess. I actually prefer to cook fawncy dishes at home.
19. When you eat out, what types of food and drinks do you order?
Usually it’s stuff we don’t serve at home (we went to a buffet where they had scallops, and I thought they were going to kick me out. But, I hadn’t had scallops in FOREVER! I’m the only one that likes them, so what’s the point of buying them?) And it’s usually more than I should eat. As for drink, it depends- if there’s raspberry tea I’m all over it, if all they serve is Pepsi products, I’ll order water, if they have Coke, than it’s Diet Coke. And yes, I do know that it’s bad for me.
20. Did you know that the USDA and FDA are not on the side of public health and well-being?
No government organization (and I use that term loosely!) has the public’s best interest in mind. Our entire government has prostituted itself out to big business.
Ok Dallas, a few things…dark chocolate (especially the 80-90% stuff with no sugar) is actually pretty good for you. Sugar…well, natural or not…is toxic…and diet sodas…those could be causing your ear problems…and more! But, I am telling you nothing you didn’t know right?
Bob gets grossed out when I eat the fat (except him, he says) too. He likes it, but not the big spots of it…I love it!
I have not tried duck eggs, but I would. I did have venison (raw) the other day at this seafood restaurant (fawncy, fawncy) called Eddie Vs in Ft. Worth. It was yummy. Wish I could eat scallops…but again…allergic…sux.
Anywho, great answers! You are dead on with the cholesterol question…but I will go into more details later…after more have answered!
Advice: Stay away from the sugar, aspartame (diet coke), grains, and starches and you are likely to see some seriously dramatic changes in your weight and health,…for the waaaaaay better!
Love ya!
Love you too, doll, and I LOVE what you’re doing. You’ve got our support 100%! The whole world needs to be smarter about what they eat. And yeah…I know my choices aren’t always best…eventually I’ll enter a 12 step program for (diet)Coke Addiction! 😉
Thanks! Yeah, it totally is an addiction…so true! Oh, I was also gonna say that one thing you didn’t add to your list of carbohydrate is veggies…yes, veggies are also carbohydrates…but less intense generally…because of the fiber…and fruit…forget about it! Carbs and sugar…uggh! The fiber and micronutrients do help…but still…
Oh snap, forgot to add this: you can get fresh duck eggs at Asian markets. They’re crazy expensive, but so good. (I got them free as a kid, because my farmer aunt traded veggies with a duck lady. Everybody was happy, esp. me :-p)
I can practically guarantee you that vitamin D3 will help rid you of your seasonal allergies. I began taking adequate doses of vitamin D3 about 2 years ago for another illnes. By the time spring rolled around I realized that the beautiful fragrances of spring were not making me sneeze. Let me tell ya, I have the worst sneezing seizures ( that I call them ) on the planet. If I have the slightest sensation that a sneeze is approaching,I take a little extra D and the symptoms vanish. No running nose, red eyes…nothin’
Many people consider breakfast as the first meal of the morning. I don’t, for me, breakfast is the first meal of the day and I do not generally eat my first meal until after 3:00 in the afternoon. I feel like my body began wearing down from feeding it 5 times a day. It just isn’t necessary and probably harmful as we age. When I break my fast it is at least 6-8 ozs of animal protein ( chicken, eggs, beef, liver, etc) avocado salad with kefir dressing and mustard greens. I drink mostly sparkling water with no type of sweetener or coffee. I cook with butter, coconut oil, a little bit of olive oil and as many spices that I can. I not only eat meat, I eat the fat that comes with it. I believe that fat is the most important nutrient that we take into oour bodies because of the wonderful things that it does for us.
I do take supplements- Vitamin D3, magnesium,B12,zinc
There is nothing wrong with high cholesterol if the ratios are on point. If triglycerides are below 100 that improves the cholesterol ratio regardless of what it is. So people, learn about cholesterol so that you are not prisoner to scare tactics.
I do believe sugar is toxic and is the root cause of the majority of diseases know to man…and woman.I don’t know a farmer but I try to buy local when I can. I consume raw dairy…when I can afford it.
Thanks for the reply and the info, Mary! I will have to try upping my Vitamin D3…my allergies generally come in the form of watery eyes…they aren’t itchy…just watery…so if D3 will help it, I’m sooooo in!
I totally get the skipping breakfast thing…occasionally I will fast intermittently…just because my body is not really hungry. In fact, this week I have not eaten until around 1pm 3 of the 5 days…I just listen to my body!
Your comments to cholesterol are totally on point! I do hope that the others reading this will hear that and take it to heart!
Thank you again!
Rachel
1. What do you consider a healthy breakfast?
I consider a healthy breakfast to be two eggs fried in butter, two slices of nitrate free bacon and a cup of coffee with just enough half and half to give it some color.
2. What type of activity and exercise do you get during the week?
I run most every day. I enjoy it. It’s my zen. I do sprints once a week. I do strength training twice a week. I like to swim and bike with my children.
3. Do you use supplements? If so, what?
I take Vit D3, potassium, magnesium, probiotic, digestive enzyme, fish oil and 5 htp (occasionally)
4. Do you have any health issues you would like to get rid of?
Hypothyroidism, Insulin Resistance and insomnia……
5. How many hours of sleep do you generally get per night?
I go through periods of insomnia. I might sleep 5 or 6 hours on a good night. My idea of a perfect night of sleep is from 10 pm to 6 am.
6. Do you drink soda or diet soda? If so, what kind and how much?
I might drink two glasses of Coke Zero a month.
7. Do you drink water? If so, is it filtered, bottled, or tap? How much?
I drink 64 to 72 oz of filtered tap water a day.
8. Do you believe that eating saturated fat will make you fat?
No!
9. Do you know what essential macronutrients are?
Protein, Carbohydrates, Fats and Water… Right? I’m guessing because these are the four things listed on my diet journal.
10. Do you believe humans need to eat carbohydrates?
I think humans need carbs in the form of fruits and vegetables, not so much grains.
11. What are carbohydrates? Give examples.
Fruits, Vegetable, grains, processed foods
12. Do you think sugar is toxic?
Definitely!
13. Do you believe that high-cholesterol and foods that contain cholesterol will give you heart disease?
I don’t believe it, nope definitely do not believe it.
14. Do you eat the fat on meat?
I will trim huge chunks of fat off meat before cooking it. I’m not concerned about getting every spec and will eat it after cooking.
15. Do you eat meat? If so, what kind? If not, why?
I free range and organic proteins. I won’t eat hot dogs, deli meat or nuggets…it’s over processed.
16. Do you know a farmer?
Acquaintances
17. Are you interested in buying meats, milks, and veggies from a local farmer?
Yes! I already shop at the local farmer’s market for produce and buy my meat from a local butcher shop.
18. Do you eat out? If so, how often?
I eat out three times a month, once as a family and twice for date night. I order food and drink I don’t normally have at home.
19. When you eat out, what types of food and drinks do you order?
I order food and drink I don’t normally have at home.
20. Did you know that the USDA and FDA are not on the side of public health and well-being?
It’s all about the money.
I love, love, love your comments…really, the macronutrients are carbohydrate, fat, and protein…but the only ESSENTIAL ones (that means the kind our bodies cannot make) are FAT and PROTEIN…the carbs can and are made by the body…eat enough fat and you will not need the carbs…but veggies and some fruits are great! Thanks for the response!