Nookworm

Happy early birthday to me! {Not for 14 days I usually get my presents early around here, especially if they come from Best Buy}

I have been going back and forth about wanting an e-reader for some time now. I hinted to Michael that I wanted one for my upcoming birthday. One of my clients has the Nook and she loves it. Spent almost an entire session selling one to me. Then I asked my brother-in-law about his Kindle Fire and he loves his. I played with both, really liked both…but in the end…after reading a lot of online reviews and getting an unbiased opinion from the Best Buy guy (they are not on commission and both devices were the same price) we went with the Nook.

I’m so excited! I still have to finish reading this awesome book I won from Tara’s blog before I go too crazy with the Nook purchases…I will soon be a “Nookworm.” <—Please tell me I invented that word, because I just made it up right now.

If you are a parent I can not recommend it more!!! I haven’t been able to put it down! So much I agree with, and already was putting the methods into place. For instance..I will not fight with Ella or try and get her to eat things she doesn’t want to. It’s SO hard as a parent to do this, because you want your child to eat, and get healthy things. The author (who is a Pediatrician) gives advice and talks about common “mistakes” we make as parents when getting kids to eat their veggies, and mishandling “sabotage” from outside sources such as caretakers and relatives (grandparents). Also, the “dessert” or “treat” reward cycle for eating dinner. I’ve been coaching Michael since I was pregnant that we absolutely can not fall in that pattern. All the man wants to do is give this child an ice cream cone, I swear…so when it’s time for her to have ice cream, it will be “just because” not “because” she ate another type of food.

“Eat your veggies or no dessert” is something every kid (including myself) probably heard a thousand times over. It’s also a sure fire way to get a kid to NOT eat their vegetables. Or to eat them, but view them as a “suspect” or “undesirable” food, because you had to bribe them to eat it!

There is so much to learn and consider and every child is different. This is why this book is so great. She goes through all of that in a non-judgmental, very informative, well thought out way! She gives great strategies for kids to try out new foods, things that will certainly help out a frustrated parent!

She has something for young children of all stages, from the time they are eating solids until 10 years old. This book is very similar to a project I have personally been working on this past month. It’s giving me even more insight and tips that I can reference back to! I highly recommend picking up a copy of “Eat Your Vegetables.” You won’t regret it!

Another book I am really excited to pick up soon is Mark Hyman’s new one. The Blood Sugar Solution. Has anyone read it?

I can not even tell you how great I have felt since giving up grains. From a cravings perspective mostly, and an energy perspective– surprisingly. It’s only been two weeks, and while I don’t see much of a difference in how I look, I do feel a difference…and that difference is that I feel satisfied. I don’t feel like I always “need” something sweet.

This is something that could have saved me years ago when I have issues with binge eating. It was always carbohydrate foods, and it was such a terrible cycle. To think what I used to put my body through. It has been years and years of fixing and repairing the damage, physically and emotionally.

 It’s always exciting to find what works for me as an individual. I am constantly learning, and trying to put together the puzzle pieces. I have said before, no one diet is right for all, and no one diet is right for one at every stage in their life. I keep reflecting back to before I got pregnant, to how it changed, evolved, and how it’s changing again. Again, the key component to it all is sugar. And how I got that under control at any given point these past several years. Giving up processed “diet” foods was a big one years ago. And my diet has evolved into a more natural, plant-heavy, minimally processed food diet over time. But even with healthy diets, you can still fall into patterns where you are constantly spiking your blood sugar and not even know it. I am sure this was happening to me at plenty of points over the past few years (my whole life).

photo source

Which brings me to my next point. Diabesity. Apparently this something that is effecting 1 in 2 Americans, most people have no idea that they have it, and doctors have no idea how to diagnose or treat it! It’s the NUMBER ONE CAUSE of heart disease, cancer, dementia, and diabetes!

Read Mark Hyman’s 8 Steps to Reversing Diabesity.

Expect more discussions on this to come!!!

I’m hoping to get out either one of the many recipes I’ve been testing lately, or a new workout! I may just be on my Nook instead though…

 

What do you think helps you the most with keeping sugar cravings at bay?

 For my it has definitely been finding the right balance of healthy fats and protein in my diet. And of course nixing grains. I know many people who have no sweet tooth that eat a ton of grains in their healthy diet, so I’m very interested to hear what works for different people!

Also see:

Man vs Sugar

You vs. Sugar

Grain-Free 30 Day Challenge

Talk soon,

Laury

Tagged as: blood sugar, controlling blood sugar, Nook