Acne Blues

Hello everyone.  So my face is starting to breakout. I think it is all those Subway sandwiches I have eaten lately.  I noticed that I am breaking out mainly on my forehead and side of my chin.

I remember reading something about acne and face mapping.  I decided to give it a look to understand why the sudden breakout.  Here is what I found:

Forehead: Bladder & Digestive System — Improve your diet and drink more water.

Between Eyebrows: Liver — Try cutting back on alcohol, heavy food or dairy. This area can also indicate a food allergy.

Side of face near ears:  Kidneys — Make sure you’re keeping yourself hydrated with water and cut back on liquids that dehydrate you. This means nix the soda, coffee and/or alcohol.

Cheek Bones: Respiratory system — Those who smoke or have allergies tend to have acne here.

Sides of Eyes: Kidneys — Dark circles are usually a result of dehydration. Drink up!

Nose: Heart — Check your blood pressure and make sure you’re not using makeup that irritates your skin.

Chin: Stomach — Consider a detox or adding more fiber to your diet to help with digestion.

Sides of Chin: Hormones — Stress and hormonal changes can sometimes be alleviated with more water and a few extra servings of dark, leafy greens but if breakouts in this area persistent, make an appointment with your doctor to look into a possible hormonal imbalance. Additionally, breakouts in this area also indicate when you are ovulating (and which side).

Neck:  Illness — Can be a sign of your body fighting bacteria to avoid illness. Take a breather and drink plenty of fluids.

Now, just because you are breaking out does not mean you have one of the reasons above. Always check with a doctor.

I just find it interesting that this has come on since eating the same thing six days in a row.  I do think my ovulation is playing a big part in some of this, but I have been on "that time of the month" for four weeks straight.  No surprise since I haven't had it for months.

Well, as always I am not only giving you health information but way too much info on me, lol.

Information Source: U Look Haute

Waist to Hip Ratio: Why it matters...

So today I learned what waist to hip ratio is.  Let me share... Our health risks are not based solely on how much fat we have.  It is also based on where most of that fat is located.  People that have more weight around their waist is at at greater risk of heart disease and diabetes than those packing on the pounds around the hips.

Several studies have also shown that as we (women) age and get closer to menopause our fat suddenly starts to migrate upward to our midsections. So ladies, if you don't start working out those thunder thighs you may soon find all that fat popping a cork in that belly button of yours.

How to Calculate Waist Hip Ratio

Waist Hip Ratio is calculated by dividing the measurement of your waist by the measurement of your hips.

How to Get Your Waist and Hip Measurements

Use a measuring tape to take your waist and hip measurement. If you do not have a measuring tape available, use a long piece of string instead and then measure the length of the string against a flat ruler.

Stand in a relaxed position breathing normally when you take the measurement. Do not pull tightly on the measuring tape or string.

Waist: Your waist measurement should be taken at the smaller section of your natural waist, usually located just above the belly button.
Hips: Your hip measurement should be taken at the your hips on the widest part of your buttocks.

So let me tell you where I am.  My waist circumference is 37 inches.  My hip circumference is 43.5 inches.  This puts me at a waist to hip ratio of 0.85.  I am considered to be at Moderate Risk.

The calculation is as follows:  waist (37) / hips (43.5) = 85

Waist to hip ratio chart:
Male: 0.95 or below= low risk.   0.96 to 1.0= moderate risk.     1.0+= high risk
Female: 0.80 or below= low risk     0.81 to 0.85= moderate risk.    0.85+= high risk

Food: A Powerful Obsession

There is an emotional connection to food. If there wasn't then we would all be skinny. There is something about the way it tastes on our pallette, smells in our nostrils and appeals to our eyes. There is definitely a comfort in the way food connects to all of our senses.

Today, I saw an obese women whom I have seen in the past. However, today as I headed off to lunch I thought to myself, "Why do people let themselves get so big. Why don't they just stop cramming their plates full of food? If they would just STOP doing all the things that got them fat in the first place they may actually start losing weight."

This is where I stopped myself and said, "I AM 'they'." By definition, I too am obese. Just because I fill my plate up with small portion sizes and have to go back 5 or 6 times for more does not make me any different than the person who crams it on their plate the first time.

The one thing I have learned (which someone who's never been fat may never learn) is that there is an obsession with food that has to be dealt with if you truly want to loose weight and keep it off for good. 

Right now what is working for me is that I have found a new obsession. I can proudly say YOU, my readers, are my new obsession. As I have mentioned a million times before, I want to inspire YOU. I believe my goal on earth is to motivate and encourage others. If I am doing something just for my benefit I don't feel the same kind of satisfaction that I feel when i know I am helping someone else.

I am curious to know what will be your new obsession once you realize that food no longer has control over you. There is something very rewarding and powerful when you realize that food is meant to keep you alive  and not kill you.  Learning how to take control over food takes patience, knowledge, and WILL. Without those three things you may find that the cycle to lose weight will have no beginning and sadly, no end.

Digestive System

So I've noticed a change in the ummm...errrr...ummm... (potty time).  Ever since increasing my water in-take I noticed that I go tinkle quite a bit.  Now, some of you are going "Duh" right now.  But for someone like me who has the "gotta go..gotta go...gotta go right now" syndrome this can definitely get in the way of progress.

I have to make sure that I don't drink a lot before going on walks and if I drink a lot at dinner I am up at midnight running to the bathroom.

So today, as I went on my fifth-day-in-a-row walk, I realized that I need to make sure I keep the water on me.  I did my 1/2 hour walk and decided to be a "hero" and run all the way up the steps (now I counted 12 steps in one SMALL portion of this looooonnnnggg upward part of the hiking trail).  So there were a ton more .  Then, as if that wasn't enough I walked all the way down and RAN up them again.

Now I can't sit here and say that I was able to run up all of them, but I sure did try.  My calves were burning and my lungs were about to explode.

When I got to the top of the staircase landing the second time I had to sit down.  At this point I was dizzy and on the verge of throwing up.  I sat there trying to get my heart rate down but I could feel my heart just pounding against my chest.  I am not sure if I just over did it or if I was dehydrated.  I had only drank about 32 oz of water before setting out on this walk.  Either way, I decided even if I have to carry a role of toilet paper with me and make a venture into the woods, I had better load up on my fluids when doing this kind of thing.  Otherwise, someone may be rushing me to the hospital.

The other "bathroom" lesson that I learned this week was that eating healthy will really help keep the bowls moving.  I was staying so constipated before (I know...more than you need to know) but these walks have really helped keep me regular.

I guess the reason I am writing this is because we are all friends on here.  I read a really sad story about a girl who lost a ton of weight (without really doing anything). Come to find out she had a disease that caused her stomach muscles to stop working.  She was in her 20's and slowly dying.

Since I care about my own well-being and that of my readers, I thought I would share two good articles for keeping your digestive system "happy and healthy".  I hope this helps someone out there.

Food Sensitivities: 10 Best & Worst Foods for Your Tummy
http://www.lifescript.com/health/centers/digestive/tips/gut_check_10_best_and_worst_foods_for_your_tummy.aspx

UltraWellness Lesson 4: Gut & Digestive Health

by Dr Mark Hyman
http://drhyman.com/blog/2010/04/28/ultrawellness-lesson-4-gut-digestive-health/

All Things Water

So I have come to the realization that my body was in desperate need of H2O.  I struggled all last week with fits of hunger, but since increasing my water intake this week I find that it is extremely easy to tame that wild beast (aka stomach).

Looking back at my food journal I noticed that I was drinking maybe 32 oz of water a day. That is about 1/2 of what the recommendation is ( eight 8 oz glasses per day).  So, how was I able to hit my daily target plus some?  I started carrying a cup around with me that has a straw in it.  I have found that water is super easy to drink with a straw.  For some reason drinking out of a bottle is starting to give me gag reflexes.

Since I am on the water train this evening, I thought I would share some cool facts I that I found about the benefits of drinking water:

1. It balances out your body's fluids. If you are not taking in enough fluids then your body begins to run low. This causes Your brain to signal your kidneys to reserve more water.  While this means less trips to the restroom, it also means that your body is retaining fluids.

2. (This is one that I realized this week) It can help control your calories.  

3. It can Energize your muscles.  

4. It helps skin look good.

5. It helps your kidneys.

6. It helps maintain normal bowl function.

Source: 

WebMD

Also, one important thing you should know:

If you drink water from a plastic bottle, never leave it sitting in the sun and don't use them to heat water in.  Plastic bottles Contain chemicals that can leech into our bodies. This may create greater cancer risks. Bottles that get heated by the sun or get warmed up otherwise may leak more of these chemicals. If at all possible, try to drink you water from a glass container or pitcher.