Out For a Walk….A Long one

Today I went out for a walk. This is my second time in a week and I’ll start off by saying that it was great. I haven’t been posting in quite some time and have honestly been stuck. Hopefully I can finally discipline myself in the area of fitness. The food I’ve been working on and have still largely cut out sugar.

I’ll be posting again soon!

As always, thanks for reading and join us today to take back your health! Make it a great day,

Jacob
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“Making Diet History by Making Diet’s History”
http://thisisnotadiet.org

124 Ways Sugar Ruins Your Health

I’ve been cutting out sugar again for 2 months now and I’m feeling GREAT! I originally did this at the request of my nutritionist a year ago and I succeeded at it for 1 whole year! Well, a friend of mine, Melissa, started doing it for a week and she’s defeated day 1! Below is a list that really helped to inform & inspire me to cut out the sugar along with my nutritionist’s advice.

124 Ways Sugar Ruins Your Health

By Nancy Appleton, PhD — Author of Lick the Sugar Habit

1. Sugar can suppress the immune system.
2. Sugar upsets the mineral relationships in the body.
3. Sugar can cause hyperactivity, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and crankiness in children.
4. Sugar can produce a significant rise in triglycerides.
5. Sugar contributes to the reduction in defense against bacterial infection (infectious diseases).
6. Sugar causes a loss of tissue elasticity and function, the more sugar you eat the more elasticity and function you loose.
7. Sugar reduces high density lipoproteins.
8. Sugar leads to chromium deficiency.
9. Sugar leads to cancer of the breast, ovaries, prostate, and rectum.
10. Sugar can increase fasting levels of glucose.
11. Sugar causes copper deficiency.
12. Sugar interferes with absorption of calcium and magnesium.
13. Sugar can weaken eyesight.
14. Sugar raises the level of neurotransmitters: dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine.
15. Sugar can cause hypoglycemia.
16. Sugar can produce an acidic digestive tract.
17. Sugar can cause a rapid rise of adrenaline levels in children.
18. Sugar malabsorption is frequent in patients with functional bowel disease.
19. Sugar can cause premature aging.
20. Sugar can lead to alcoholism.
21. Sugar can cause tooth decay.
22. Sugar contributes to obesity.
23. High intake of sugar increases the risk of Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis.
24. Sugar can cause changes frequently found in person with gastric or duodenal ulcers.
25. Sugar can cause arthritis.
26. Sugar can cause asthma.
27. Sugar greatly assists the uncontrolled growth of Candida Albicans (yeast infections).
28. Sugar can cause gallstones.
29. Sugar can cause heart disease.
30. Sugar can cause appendicitis.
31. Sugar can cause multiple sclerosis.
32. Sugar can cause hemorrhoids.
33. Sugar can cause varicose veins.
34. Sugar can elevate glucose and insulin responses in oral contraceptive users.
35. Sugar can lead to periodontal disease.
36. Sugar can contribute to osteoporosis.
37. Sugar contributes to saliva acidity.
38. Sugar can cause a decrease in insulin sensitivity.
39. Sugar can lower the amount of Vitamin E in the blood.
40. Sugar can decrease growth hormone.
41. Sugar can increase cholesterol.
42. Sugar can increase the systolic blood pressure.
43. Sugar can cause drowsiness and decreased activity in children.
44. High sugar intake increases advanced glycation end products (AGEs) (Sugar bound non-enzymatically to protein)
45. Sugar can interfere with the absorption of protein.
46. Sugar causes food allergies.
47. Sugar can contribute to diabetes.
48. Sugar can cause toxemia during pregnancy.
49. Sugar can contribute to eczema in children.
50. Sugar can cause cardiovascular disease.
51. Sugar can impair the structure of DNA
52. Sugar can change the structure of protein.
53. Sugar can make our skin age by changing the structure of collagen.
54. Sugar can cause cataracts.
55. Sugar can cause emphysema.
56. Sugar can cause atherosclerosis.
57. Sugar can promote an elevation of low density lipoproteins (LDL).
58. High sugar intake can impair the physiological homeostasis of many systems in the body.
59. Sugar lowers the enzymes ability to function.
60. Sugar intake is higher in people with Parkinson’s disease.
61. Sugar can cause a permanent altering the way the proteins act in the body.
62. Sugar can enlarge the liver by making the liver cells divide.
63. Sugar can increase the amount of liver fat.
64. Sugar can enlarge the kidney and produce pathological changes in it.
65. Sugar can damage the pancreas.
66. Sugar can increase the body’s fluid retention.
67. Sugar is enemy #1 of the bowel movement.
68. Sugar can cause myopia (nearsightedness).
69. Sugar can compromise the lining of the capillaries.
70. Sugar can make the tendons more brittle.
71. Sugar can cause headaches, including migraine.
72. Sugar plays a role in pancreatic cancer in women.
73. Sugar can adversely affect school children’s grades and cause learning disorders.
74. Sugar can cause an increase in delta, alpha, and theta brain waves.
75. Sugar can cause depression.
76. Sugar increases the risk of gastric cancer.
77. Sugar and cause dyspepsia (indigestion).
78. Sugar can increase your risk of getting gout.
79. Sugar can increase the levels of glucose in an oral glucose tolerance test over the ingestion of complex carbohydrates.
80. Sugar can increase the insulin responses in humans consuming high-sugar diets compared to low sugar diets.
81 High refined sugar diet reduces learning capacity.
82. Sugar can cause less effective functioning of two blood proteins, albumin, and lipoproteins, which may reduce the body’s ability to handle fat and cholesterol.
83. Sugar can contribute to Alzheimer’s disease.
84. Sugar can cause platelet adhesiveness.
85. Sugar can cause hormonal imbalance; some hormones become under active and others become overactive.
86. Sugar can lead to the formation of kidney stones.
87. Sugar can lead to the hypothalamus to become highly sensitive to a large variety of stimuli.
88. Sugar can lead to dizziness.
89. Diets high in sugar can cause free radicals and oxidative stress.
90. High sucrose diets of subjects with peripheral vascular disease significantly increase platelet adhesion.
91. High sugar diet can lead to biliary tract cancer.
92. Sugar feeds cancer.
93. High sugar consumption of pregnant adolescents is associated with a twofold increased risk for delivering a small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infant.
94. High sugar consumption can lead to substantial decrease in gestation duration among adolescents.
95. Sugar slows food’s travel time through the gastrointestinal tract.
96. Sugar increases the concentration of bile acids in stools and bacterial enzymes in the colon. This can modify bile to produce cancer- causing compounds and colon cancer.
97. Sugar increases estradiol (the most potent form of naturally occurring estrogen) in men.
98. Sugar combines and destroys phosphatase, an enzyme, which makes the process of digestion more difficult.
99. Sugar can be a risk factor of gallbladder cancer.
100. Sugar is an addictive substance.
101. Sugar can be intoxicating, similar to alcohol.
102. Sugar can exacerbate PMS.
103. Sugar given to premature babies can affect the amount of carbon dioxide they produce.
104. Decrease in sugar intake can increase emotional stability.
105. The body changes sugar into 2 to 5 times more fat in the bloodstream than it does starch.
106. The rapid absorption of sugar promotes excessive food intake in obese subjects.
107. Sugar can worsen the symptoms of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
108. Sugar adversely affects urinary electrolyte composition.
109. Sugar can slow down the ability of the adrenal glands to function.
110. Sugar has the potential of inducing abnormal metabolic processes in a normal healthy individual and to promote chronic degenerative diseases.
111..IVs (intravenous feedings) of sugar water can cut off oxygen to the brain.
112. High sucrose intake could be an important risk factor in lung cancer.
113. Sugar increases the risk of polio.
114. High sugar intake can cause epileptic seizures.
115. Sugar causes high blood pressure in obese people.
116. In Intensive Care Units: Limiting sugar saves lives.
117. Sugar may induce cell death.
118. Sugar may impair the physiological homeostasis of many systems in living organisms.
119. In juvenile rehabilitation camps, when children were put on a low sugar diet, there was a 44% drop in antisocial behavior.
120. Sugar can cause gastric cancer.
121. Sugar dehydrates newborns.
122. Sugar can cause gum disease.
123. Sugar increases the estradiol in young men.
124. Sugar can cause low birth-weight babies.

An End Brings a New Beginning!

This is NOT a Diet is 1 year old!

So a whole year has come and gone for ThisIsNOTaDiet and what has come of it. Well, we started strong with a great group of people & bloggers who were on the same mission to lose weight & most importantly make life changes for better health. Several months in, a few people dropped out from bloggers fatigue and long story short a year after we began, this blog became a ghost town. A few of us did well and made changes that were lasting. I will be the first to admit, I had major struggles and my weight fluctuated up & down and ultimately, went up.

So what have I learned? What’s changed?

Well, I just got married about 3 weeks ago and I knew that April 1, 2009 was coming. This would mark the 1 year anniversary of ThisIsNOTaDiet. For about 6 or so months, I knew that once I got married, I would make those life changes permanent. I guess you could say that the year leading up to my wedding was preparation for healthy living. With all of its ups & downs I was set on maintaining that I’d finally take charge of my health and I’m happy to report that now, 3 weeks in, I have been. Me and my new family have been eating super healthy and we’ve gone back to cutting out about 95% of SUGAR. I got sick of eating irregular meals and always eating out. I also got tired of all of the negative health symptoms coming back again.

So now, 3 weeks into my new married life, I have a newfound vision for my road of health and I’ve armed myself with support from friends & a fridge full of healthy organic food. Mostly produce! Both my wife and I enjoy finding and making new healthy dishes. I already feel a lot better and feel myself dropping weight. Next week, we’re going to start walking again at least 3 times a week. I also plan on blogging a lot more here at ThisIsNOTaDiet. From this point on, I’ll be the only blogger unless we have guest bloggers join our site. I’ll spend the next month or so rethinking & reformatting this site. I still want it to be informative & fun.

I want to thank all of my family & friends who were with me during this past year and for blogging here on this site. May we all remember to take care of this one body that God’s given us and make it healthy & whole.

Make it great,

Jacob Morales

Walking on Whidbey Island, Oak Harbor, Washington

 
It’s been so so long since I’ve last posted and well, where do I start? Well I guess, to be honest, I’ve been struggling to lose weight and I actually have gained weight I initially lost. Here we are about 2 and a half months to the end of our year long project to live healthy and it has been a struggle. I finished my year without sugar and went headfirst into consuming sugary goods like crazy when the year was up. I did though finally fight off those temptations and have it under control and am in a better place than before. It’s just this weight all over me that needs to go.

I’ve began walking 3-4 times a week faithfully and am starting to feel it become a habit once again. I feel like a rusty old machine but the more and more I do it, the easier it gets and the better I feel. So this brings me to now. This week I’m visiting a friend in Oak Harbor Washington and decided to continue my walking even though I’m away from home. Today I got out and was taken away by the beauty that is the Pacific Northwest. It’s amazing and I couldn’t figure out why more people weren’t out walking. I guess they’re used to it. Anyway, this is a picture of me taking a walk along the forest laden roads of Whidbey Island. Today has really inspired me to continue my journey of being healthy & fit!

-Jacob

Happy Holidays!!

 I know with the holidays here, it is hard to fit in time to exercise and even harder to resist the yummy butter enriched foods that only come by so often. I have managed to continue to lose a little weight and still eat yams drenched in condensed milk, pecans and coconut. My big thing is dedicating AT LEAST 2 days of working out per week.  That isn’t much when you think about it.  As for the eating, I am snacking in carrots and other “hard” fiberous type of veggies. I have also been into almonds lately. For breakfast, I am eating a slice of seven grain bread with peanut butter. I try to snack on carrots or something healthy every 2 hours. By the time i get to lunch or dinner, I am not as hungry, thus I don’t end up over eating all those chubby foods that I love so much during the holiday. Don’t deny yourself the treats you love, but don’t over do it either. As for left overs, I heard ”It goes in the garbage, or the garbage goes in you.” I liked that.  Anyway, hope these tips hepled out. I will try to keep you guys more updated! =0 -Yorda

Hey All!

Hey all!
Long time no write, all has been very busy with the coming of my next child and all.
Preparing for a new little one can be a non-ending endeavor. Anyways, I’m pretty much where we left off, same weight, same eating habits which are much better than before. I find myself stopping eating once I am full or also, eating smaller portions and not having to have big meals. I am really conscious about my eating habits lately and not eating just because the foods there. Also cutting out the restaurant meals and fast food (for the most part) has not been that hard, it’s just a matter of putting a clamp on my wallet! So, for now I’m just gonna keep walkin’ the walk as best as I can.

Eat well, save money, be happy!

-Aaron

Image borrowed from here

The Ten Best Foods You’re Not Eating, Day 9 | Dried Plums

Today is day#9 of The Ten Best Foods You’re Not Eating from Men’s Health. In our last post we feautured the Goji Berries. Today we’re moving to the fruit known as the Prune.

“You may know these better by the moniker “prunes,” which are indelibly linked with nursing homes and bathroom habits. And that explains why, in an effort to revive this delicious fruit’s image, producers now market them under another name.

Why they’re healthy: Prunes contain high amounts of neochlorogenic and chlorogenic acids, antioxidants that are particularly effective at combating the “superoxide anion radical.” This nasty free radical causes structural damage to your cells, and such damage is thought to be one of the primary causes of cancer.

How to eat them: As an appetizer. Wrap a paper-thin slice of prosciutto around each dried plum and secure with a toothpick. Bake in a 400°F oven for 10 to 15 minutes, until the plums are soft and the prosciutto is crispy. Most of the fat will cook off, and you’ll be left with a decadent-tasting treat that’s sweet, savory, and healthy.” [End Article]

For more detailed information on prunes, click here: http://www.whfoods.com

As always, thanks for reading and join us today to take back your health! Make it a great day,

Jacob
————————————————————–
“Making Diet History by Making Diet’s History”
http://thisisnotadiet.org

The Ten Best Foods You’re Not Eating, Day 8 | Goji Berries

Today is day#8 of The Ten Best Foods You’re Not Eating from Men’s Health. In our last post we feautured the fruit Pomegranate. Today we’re moving to the fruit known as the Goji Berry. I have actually come to love these little raisin like berries not only for their health benefits but also for their taste. My favorite way of consuming them is by dropping a small handful into a hot cup of tea.

“These raisin-size fruits are chewy and taste like a cross between a cranberry and a cherry. More important, these potent berries have been used as a medicinal food in Tibet for over 1,700 years.

Why they’re healthy: Goji berries have one of the highest ORAC ratings—a method of gauging antioxidant power—of any fruit, according to Tufts University researchers. And although modern scientists began to study this ancient berry only recently, they’ve found that the sugars that make goji berries sweet reduce insulin resistance—a risk factor of diabetes – in rats.

How to eat them: Mix dried or fresh goji berries with a cup of plain yogurt, sprinkle them on your oatmeal or cold cereal, or enjoy a handful by themselves.” [End Article]

You can find them at specialty supermarkets or at http://gojiberries.us

For more information on Goji Berries, click here: http://Howstuffworks.com

As always, thanks for reading and join us today to take back your health! Make it a great day,

Jacob
————————————————————–
“Making Diet History by Making Diet’s History”
http://thisisnotadiet.org

It’s Been a While….

Sorry I have been out of touch, but it doesn’t mean I haven’t stuck to working out. I am proud to say I have consistently been 6 lbs. less for the last 3 weeks. I have been working out, and trying to incorporate breakfast into my diet everyday. Nothing too exciting going on in my life, other than school, work, and being a new aunt. Hope everyone is doing well, and remember to stay hydrated!

-Yorda

The Ten Best Foods You’re Not Eating, Day 7 | Pomegranate

Today is day#7 of The Ten Best Foods You’re Not Eating from Men’s Health. In our last post we feautured the vegetable known as Purslane. Today we’re moving to the fruit known as Pomegranate. This is one of those fruits that are really fun to eat or frustrating depending on your personality type. The reason is that there are many little seeds that are surrounded in delicious, tarty pulp. It takes work much like eating sunflower seeds. You can also buy drinks of the stuff.

“A popular drink for decades in the Middle East, pomegranate juice has become widely available only recently in the United States.

Why it’s healthy: Israeli scientists discovered that men who downed just 2 ounces of pomegranate juice daily for a year decreased their systolic (top number) blood pressure by 21 percent and significantly improved bloodflow to their hearts. What’s more, 4 ounces provides 50 percent of your daily vitamin C needs.

How to drink it: Try 100 percent pomegranate juice from Pom Wonderful. It contains no added sugars, and because it’s so powerful, a small glassful is all you need.” [End Article]
 
 
 
 

For a list of retailers, go to: http://www.pomwonderful.com

For more information on Pomegranates, click here: http://www.healthcentral.com

The Ten Best Foods You’re Not Eating, Day 6 | Purslane

Today is day#6 of The Ten Best Foods You’re Not Eating from Men’s Health. In our last post we feautured that delicious spice known as Cinnamon. Today we’re moving to another lesser known vegetable, Purslane. I personally have never heard of this but would be willing to try it out. It sure looks good in that sandwich!

“Although the FDA classifies purslane as a broad-leaved weed, it’s a popular vegetable and herb in many other countries, including China, Mexico, and Greece.

Why it’s healthy: Purslane has the highest amount of heart-healthy omega-3 fats of any edible plant, according to researchers at the University of Texas at San Antonio. The scientists also report that this herb has 10 to 20 times more melatonin – an antioxidant that may inhibit cancer growth – than any other fruit or vegetable tested.

How to eat it: In a salad. Think of purslane as a great alternative or addition to lettuce: The leaves and stems are crisp, chewy, and succulent, and they have a mild lemony taste. Look for it at your local farmer’s market, or Chinese or Mexican market. It’s also available at some Whole Foods stores, as an individual leafy green or in premade salad mixes.” [End Article]

For more info on Purslane, click here: About.com

As always, thanks for reading and join us today to take back your health! Make it a great day,

Jacob
————————————————————–
“Making Diet History by Making Diet’s History”
http://thisisnotadiet.org

The Ten Best Foods You’re Not Eating, Day 5 | Cinnamon

Today is day #5 of The Ten Best Foods You’re Not Eating from Men’s Health. In our last post we feautured the super fruit known as Swiss Chard. Today we’re moving to a spice. It’s that spice that we all know and love, Cinnamon.

If I had to pick a favorite spice, I think this would be the one because it’s just delicious and it’s very versatile. It’s most commonly used in deserts. It’s also found in some curry powder recipes. In the middle ages, it was said to be a status symbol. In my house it was mostly used for the desert we call “Arroz con leche.” Not much status there but it was super yummy. I often make tea out of cinnamon and when you put the right amount, it’s naturally sweet. The sweetness though is very unique and is unlike sugar or sweetener.

[Begin Artice] “This old-world spice usually reaches most men’s stomachs only when it’s mixed with sugar and stuck to a roll.

Why it’s healthy: Cinnamon helps control your blood sugar, which influences your risk of heart disease. In fact, USDA researchers found that people with type-2 diabetes who consumed 1 g of cinnamon a day for 6 weeks (about 1/4 teaspoon each day) significantly reduced not only their blood sugar but also their triglycerides and LDL (bad) cholesterol. Credit the spice’s active ingredients, methylhydroxychalcone polymers, which increase your cells’ ability to metabolize sugar by up to 20 times.
 

How to eat it: You don’t need the fancy oils and extracts sold at vitamin stores; just sprinkle the stuff that’s in your spice rack (or in the shaker at Starbucks) into your coffee or on your oatmeal. Sprinkle on chicken noodle soup for added flavor. Sprinkle some on apple slices.” [End Article]

For more info on Cinnamon, click here: Cinnamon article on About.com

For Recipes using Cinnamon, click here: http://answers.google.com

As always, thanks for reading and join us today to take back your health! Make it a great day,

Jacob
————————————————————–
“Making Diet History by Making Diet’s History”
http://thisisnotadiet.org