Oh, Crap

 

(Photo Credit) 

Changing my dietary lifestyle has rendered all sorts of changes to my body. The first was that nasty sugar withdrawal, where I felt hungover all day. Then my skin started to clear up and I had fewer breakouts. My blood test results were astounding. And, also, I've noticed that altering what goes into my body has changed what... um... comes out.

It's not a topic that many people like to or choose to talk about, but our waste can be a great indicator of our health. (Remember this book?) For example, my old eating habits resulted in one movement a day, and I thought I was healthy because it was like clockwork, at the same time every day. Other people I've talked to about this don't even have one movement every day. (That means all that, er... crap... is staying inside of you!)

Then, when talking to a close friend who recently changed to a plant-based diet, she told me she was  had started having several movements a day. Eating better food, but creating more waste? It seemed like an odd paradox, and a little alarming at first.

Though I have not become a vegan or even a vegetarian, I did switch to a more whole foods diet with minimal processed products. And, wow, did I begin to notice a change! The same thing started happening to me. Maybe it was all the fiber in the plant products? Could it be that now that I was eating more "real" food, my body wasn't confused about how to process it? Perhaps my body was resetting itself to work more efficiently? Regardless, I do know that more waste leaving my system means less of it is staying in my body, and that's a good thing.

I once heard or read somewhere that three movements a day is optimally healthy. I don't have any source or data to back that up, but it has become a running joke where I say things like "I'm only 33% healthy today," or "Time to go get 100% healthy for the day!" with my closest loved ones who have supported me on this journey.

Again, I know this is a little bit of a taboo subject, and that this may be TMI for many. However, I do think it's important to pay attention to not only how often we go, but how we feel when we do. Is it a lengthy and painful process, or relatively quick and easy? Is the experience reminiscent of having the flu or does it "hold its own," so to speak? Is it only an occasional event or does it happen regularly at about the same time each day? Is everything bright red and you're in a panic, but then you remember that you ate beets yesterday? (Because, yes, that happens... and it can be pretty freaky!)

Analyzing your movements is just one way of understanding what your body is telling you. Other examples of "reading" your body's cues:

• headaches that possibly come from being dehydrated
• heartburn that can come from eating heavily processed or acidic foods and from being inactive
• fatigue that often derives from eating foods with little or no nutritional value  (no food energy)
• abdominal pains maybe caused by IBS due to lack of waste excretion from the body

Many people take pills to offset symptoms such as these. While there are some clinical and chronic cases that may require medication, many of these could be easily prevented in most people if they better understood how to acknowledge their bodily cues.

Instead of covering up the sign that something is "off" in your body, why not address the source? Try eating foods with more fiber instead of taking supplements. Try drinking water and resting instead of popping aspirin. Try eating fewer processed foods and replacing them with whole foods to boost your energy instead of consuming energy drinks. Opt for fewer deep fat fried foods and acidic products to see if you digest your food better.  These methods are much cheaper than buying medicine, and they may actually fix most of these common issues.

Unplugged

 

(Photo Credit) 

While spending last weekend in Door County, the beau and I decided to leave the laptops behind, to silence our phones, and to keep the television off. It was only for a weekend, but I found that it made a world of difference for my soul.

I sit at a computer all day for work. When I'm not at my desk for my full-time job, I'm at my home office plunking away on my laptop for my freelance work. I watch an episode of TV on Netflix or Hulu while I eat lunch (I know, I know). I watch TV with the beau to unwind; we are both fans of "Chopped" and the NFL. My workouts usually involve a screen of some sort, either by watching a DVD for my exercise routine or by jumping along to my dance-related video games. I rely heavily on technology for my work and productivity, but it is sometimes more productive to step away from it for a while.

It had been some time since I'd let my soul breathe without screens in proximity.  Granted, I didn't need to go on a mini-vacation in order to unplug... but it sure was nice to look out at Little Sturgeon Bay in the morning, to cozy up to the fireplace in the evening, to read a book or play board games during downtime. It was both relaxing and invigorating to wander various shops in the little towns along the peninsula, to sample wine and apple brandy and fudge and cheese and creamy artichoke dip. It was reassuring to ignore what friends were posting on social network feeds and what I call "useless" news that just exists to fill airtime... ultimately realizing that the world didn't end just because I wasn't hyper-informed.

One of the items on my 30 Before 30 list is to unplug from technology like this for one whole week. An addendum also suggests avoid television for an entire month (and I'd have to count Netflix as television since I predominantly watch that). I'd do this without going on vacation, though I would take the week off from work. Can you imagine how productive I could be if I did that? I could:

• sort through every box in my basement and post everything expendable on Craigslist or eBay
• paint my front door and my backyard winterized
• read a novel or two
• bake up a storm!
• paint the canvas that is gathering cobwebs on my easel.
• make personal stationery out of the scores of scrapbook supplies I have but never used
• visit parks and attractions in my own city that I haven't had a chance to visit
• have lunch dates with friends
• squeeze in some extra workouts
• set up my tiki bar (yes, I have the elements to make a tiki bar)
• drop off my clothing and kitchenware donations to Goodwill
• visit my sister and nephew, or see my grandmother
• wash all my windows before sealing up the house for winter
• give myself an at-home spa day with masks, a mani-pedi, and a bubble bath
• have friends or neighbors over for dinner

Shouldn't I value these things more than watching episodes of a sitcom anyway? It's best if how i use my time accurately reflects what I value. A week of unplugging might help me reset myself to do just that. In fact, as motivation to use my time more wisely, I have temporarily deactivated my Facebook account. We'll see how long I last without it. Who knows... I may never go back!

Redefining Success

Here are two inspiring videos that address the topic of what it means to be successful in life (hint: it's not about making money): 

Alan Watts - What would you do if money was no object?

Alain de Botton - A kinder, gentler philosophy of success

30 Before 30

 

(Photo Credit) 

Last week I celebrated my 28th birthday.

I love birthdays! I also love goals and lists and trying new things. And I have decided to combine them all into one gigantic deliciously epic proverbial ball of awesomeness:

Here is a meticulously-compiled list of things  in no specific order that I strive to accomplish before I turn thirty years old (henceforth known as the "30 Before 30" List).

1. Make a short film and submit it to the Milwaukee Film Festival (and other festivals)
2. Visit a country in Europe (at this point, I'm so anxious to go, I'm not picky!)
3. Ride in a hot air balloon
4. Do one pull-up with good form
5. Take a burlesque class
6. Go tornado chasing
7. Eat at Alinea in Chicago
8. See every film on the AFI Top 100 Movies List (now 123 films with the anniversary edition)
9. Open a Roth IRA
10. Drink yak butter tea
11. Read the entire Harry Potter series and then see all of the films
12. Help build a house with Habitat for Humanity
13. Learn the "Thriller" Dance
14. Learn to drive stick shift
15. Make cheese
16. Reach my weight goal of wearing my lucky number as a clothing size (size 6)
17. Visit an observatory and look at the night sky through a telescope
18. Take a road trip along Route 66 
19. Make a website for my film and video works
20. Finish reading the entire Bible
21. Unplug completely for one week: no television/phone/internet (also, try no TV for one month)
22. Master a specific cocktail (maybe one that starts on fire!)
23. Completely give up using paper towels
24. Start my own business
25. Learn to play "No One Knows" by Queens of the Stone Age on my guitar
26. Do the splits
27. Receive a handwritten love letter
28. Buy a Holga camera
29. Get a henna tattoo
30. Learn to sew

The Presence of Petroleum

 

(Photo Credit) 

As I've become increasingly conscious of the ingredients in my food, it occurred to me I should also pay attention to ingredients in other products I use. If I care about what I put in to my body, shouldn't I also be concerned about what I put on to my body? This thought progression seemed simple enough, but I can honestly say I didn't give it much thought until this past spring, when I was unable to purchase my usual make-up.

I brought the make-up to the counter but was told by the cashier who scanned it that "the item cannot be sold." There was no explanation why, and there was no way to override the statement. Even though it was right there, on the shelf, I wasn't able to purchase it. Another store associate informed me that sometimes that happens when a product is recalled. Months later, the product was still not available and is now no longer on shelves, and despite my attempts I couldn't find anything online about a recall or any other reason for its disappearance. Of course, my next thought was, what the hell have I been putting on my face?!

That's when I started looking harder at ingredients on my cosmetics. I frequently spotted petroleum on the list... yes, the same petroleum used in oil and gasoline for cars. The same petroleum used in factories to produce plastics. The same petroleum we get from other nations and drill from the soils and oceans. The same petroleum whose fluctuating price is often a topic of complaint on the news and around the proverbial water cooler..

It was in my foundation, my powder, my mascara, my chapstick, my lipstick, my nail polish, my deodorant, my toothpaste, my body lotion, my shaving cream, my antibiotic ointment, my soaps... it was everywhere. Sometimes it was listed as a paraben or a toluene, but each of these products indeed had ingredients that were derived from petrochemicals. I also learned that 95% of all artificial fragrances are derived from petroleum, and that the FDA does not legally require companies to list the ingredients within those artificial fragrances. In fact, the US continues to include several products in their cosmetics that have been banned in Europe, because there is no law here prohibiting it. That means petroleum was also in my laundry detergent, my fabric softener, my air freshener, my candles, my perfume, and almost everything that had an added scent. (Click here to see a list of petrochemicals and their derivatives.)

No wonder our nation is so dependent on foreign oil... it's in so many products we use each day, and many people may not even realize it!

(See this full report for more information: Neurotoxins: At Home and the Workplace, Report by the Committee on Science and Technology, U.S. House of Representatives, Sept. 16, 1986, Report 99-827).

Appalled, I emptied my bathroom cabinets and threw out almost everything. I couldn't fathom continuing to use it, and I couldn't justify giving it to someone else. I decided to cut my losses and start over. The good news is that there are petroleum-free products out there, many of them organic. I have compiled some of my findings into a list below, for those who may want to transition into using less petroleum in their lives. (Also, none of these companies test their products on animals... yay!)

A Starter List of Petroleum-Free Beauty Products and Toiletries:

Alima Pure - This make-up company came highly recommended by some friends. Alima uses simple and pure minerals in their products. I now get my powder, bronzer, blush, and eyeshadow from here.

Aveda - Aveda products are in eco-friendly packaging and created using renewable energy. Their products from from natural, petroleum-free ingredients. Aveda offers everything from skin care and hair care products to naturally-derived aromatics like candles and perfumes. Right now, I use their shampoos and conditioners, and would like to try their mascara because it's made from pure plant extracts.

Burt's Bees - These products contain natural ingredients using renewable sources that are sensitive to the environment. I've been using these products for years, ranging from lip balms to moisturizers to cleaners to make-up remover. Their cleansing cloths have saved my face too many times to count.

Dr. Bronners - USDA Organic fair trade soaps and self-cleaning products. I love their lip balms and bar soaps! I get them at my local co-op or at Trader Joe's.

EOS (Evolution of Smooth) - Their products are 100% natural, and most of them are over 90% organic. Their lip balms, lotions, and shave creams are available in many stores, which makes them extra accessible. I keep the Summer Fruit Lip Balm Sphere on my desk at work.

Juice Beauty - I have yet to purchase any products from Juice Beauty, but I am eager to try their make-up products, moisturizers, and serums. Their products are 98% organic. This is the line endorsed by Alicia Silverstone.

Kiss My Face -  Natural sunscreen, deodorant, and toothpaste are just a few of the offerings at Kiss My Face. You can also find a vast array of moisturizers, lip products, and soaps. I'm looking forward to trying these options!

Mario Badescu - This is a predominantly skin care product line, though they also provide hair products. I have been using Mario Badescu for years and can attest to its claims for shampoos, conditioners, face cleaners, exfoliants, masks, toners, make-up remover, moisturizers, and more. The prices are affordable, the products are effective (many celebrities use MB, and their livelihood depends on looking good), and you get several samples with every order! I swear by the silver powder, kiwi face scrub, and the overly gratuitous but luxuriously amazing rosewater aloe facial spray.

Zoya - Also recommended by a friend, this will now be my one and only stop for nail polish!  They offer every color you can imagine, and will send you a color spoon so you can hold it up to your own hand before committing. Then, they credit the money spent on your color spoons to you actual order (I ordered 28 spoons initially at 50 cents apiece, and then saw that $14 credit applied to my order when I made my decision... so easy!). These polishes are free of toluene and other harsh ingredients like formaldehyde. Zoya also sells base and top coats, as well as a gentle and natural nail polish remover.

 

(Photo Credit) 

In addition to updating my cosmetics and toiletries, I recently made my own laundry detergent from scratch using borax, washing soda, and plain soap. I have been pleased with the results... not to mention it costs less than 20 cents per gallon to make! Here is a list of ten different natural and environmentally-friendly laundry detergent recipes.


I understand this is a lot of information to process. If you want to make a change like I did, don't feel overwhelmed; the important thing is to start somewhere.

Improving Happiness

(You'll never need to watch the news again. This story has it covered.)

Three weeks into my Spending Diet, I've spent $98.73 less this month so far than I did last year at this time. That makes me happy!

Here are some other changes I've incorporated in recent times that have improved my overall happiness:

• The past stays there. I don't dwell on reliving things that have already happened and I cannot change. That includes old relationships, personal losses, odd hair colors, questionable spending choices... and yes, even the Packers/Seahawks Monday Night Football game.  I've learned from past experiences, and I acknowledge them, but I don't dwell on them. My great grandmother used to say, "Don't hold anything you can't hold in your hands." (This rule also applies to bodily functions, I suppose, but I rather like the notion that life is better when you let go and move on.) I'm more excited about the present, what is happening now... and looking forward to what the future brings. Always.
• I filter my news. Watching television news is so ridiculously misdirected and sensationalized these days, that I feel it is one step away from just making shit up. And newspaper companies can actually endorse certain political candidates now? No thanks, I can't trust that information because it may be biased. I try to get my information from the most objective sources possible. I find BBC News and NPR to be better options than much of what is out there. I don't wish to read about every shooting death ever in the nation, the latest celebrity gossip, viral video, or exclusively U.S. news. There's a whole world out there with stuff happening, and it affects all of us.
• I read. I work in a media field. I make videos and watch many movies. I sit at a computer most of the day. It's nice to see those stories unfold with their beautiful HD imagery, but I really like to exercise my imagination and build that imagery myself once in a while. Reading helps me reconnect with that creative flow. It helps bring stillness and quietude, because reading can take place anywhere. Reading doesn't require electricity (if you're still reading those things called "books" in this age of tablets and e-readers). It can be done outside, or on the go, or at work, or in a waiting room, or in a coffee shop, or in a foreign country, or in a bathtub. Reading can be done without disrupting those around you. Reading can also be free, if you have access to a public library. The ability to read is definitely a crucial skill, It's important to keep that muscle working regularly, lest your brain degenerate into only comprehending YouTube videos of animals in outfits. Okay, I agree... those are awesome. But so is reading!
• Slow is the way to go. In the past year, my temper has deflated tremendously. I find getting up a few minutes earlier means I'm not rushing to get out the door on time. It means I'm less likely to forget anything in my frantic rush. It means I don't have to speed and get mad at red lights or other drivers (as often). All of these are beneficial to reducing stress. I've learned to say no to accepting invitations and obligations when my plate is already full. I've learned to cook my own meals, mostly from scratch, and enjoy the added health benefits and satiation that I didn't get from fast food or instant meals. In a culture that constantly seeks instant gratification, it can be difficult to slow down while the rest of the nation speeds by, going "That web site needs to load NOW! This line needs to get shorter NOW! I need that project done NOW! I need to meet my weight loss goal NOW! I need this movie to get to the point NOW! I need to buy that dress NOW!" And they'll try to pull you back in. Once you've experienced a less harried pace, you won't ever go back.
• My priorities are in check. Being rich is not a priority, but having enough finances to cover the lost of living is. Having a supermodel's figure is not a priority, but being healthy is. Owning the latest tech device is not a priority, but quality communication with my loved ones is. Pursuing my passion is a priority, while making my job my life is not. Collecting and possessing things I value is more important than having lots of stuff, new stuff, the trendiest stuff, or the most expensive stuff.
• I accept responsibility. I don't need to prove anything to anyone by what I own, what I do, or how I look. At the end of the day, I'm responsible for my body and what I put into it. I'm responsible for my finances and how I use them. I'm responsible for cleaning, fixing, and storing my stuff, as well as how much stuff I choose to accumulate. I don't go out drinking if I don't want to consume empty calories, pay $10 for cocktails, and feel sluggish in the morning. I don't buy chai lattes at the coffee shop twice a week if I want to save that annual $400+ towards retirement or a vacation or a new furnace. I don't sulk around and blame the job market, the government, the fast food chains, or the cost of inflation. Finger pointing only makes people bitter, it makes them think they don't have responsibility over their own actions, and it isn't productive. Despite setbacks in the economy and in national priorities, I still have the ability to make my own choices in most matters. I do, and I'm happier for that because I can give myself the credit when I see results.
• I treat myself. When I have a night off, I like to take a bubble bath, make single-serve chocolate cake in a mug, give myself a pedicure, listen to records, watch four episodes of "The X-Files" in a row, call up a friend, drink hot cocoa, take a book to the lakefront, visit the cheap seats cinema, or go for a leisurely walk. These are all treats I can give myself that don't cost much. I give myself permission to enjoy a reward because it breaks up the monotony of fulfilling obligations that come with being a fiscally and emotionally responsible adult. It can renew my determination and motivation, and hit that internal reset button.
 

 

What My Blood Lab Results Told Me

 

(Photo Credit) 

I went to my primary care physician last week and said, "I'd like to have my levels tested."

"For what?" She asked.

"Everything."

I realized that, just weeks away from my 28th birthday, that I had no idea what my cholesterol levels were, if I had normal blood sugar, if my kidneys and thyroid were functioning normally, or if I was getting enough vitamin D (most people--- unless they live near the equator--- have a vitamin D deficiency, regardless of how much time they spend in the sun. Did you know that?).

Nothing felt or seemed particularly wrong, but I figured if I was on a quest to really be healthy (and not just skinny or buff or whatever), I should know if there's anything going on in my body that I can't see. I made a lab appointment a few days later, was called back to have my blood drawn, and I was out the door in sixty seconds flat. That's all the time it took, so there really is no excuse for me waiting this long.

I knew this much going in: based on my height, weight, and measurements, I had a BMI of 28.0 (above the normal range of 18.5-24.9) and a body fat percentage of 36.61% (above the normal range of 21-33%). These put me in an overweight" and "at risk" category. Those I knew needed to change.

Since taking my initial measurements one week ago, I have lost two pounds, one inch off my waistline, and I've gone down to a BMI of 27.88 and a body fat percentage of 34.86%. It's only been a week, but I'm on my way! (For the record, one month ago my BMI was 28.7 and my body fat percentage was 36.32%.)

(Here are links to an online Body Mass Index Calculator and a Body Fat Percentage Calculator.)

Today, I received the results from my blood lab in the mail. Quite frankly, I was very surprised:

Blood Pressure

Healthy Range: 100-130 Systolic/65-85 Diastolic

My Level: 124 Systolic/64 Diastolic 

Total Cholesterol

Healthy Range: < 200

My Level: 158 

HDL (Good) Cholesterol

Healthy Range: 40-60 mg/dL

My Level: 42 

LDL (Bad) Cholesterol

Healthy Range: < 100

My Level: 95 

Blood Glucose

Healthy Range: 65-99 mg/dL

My Level: 77 

Calcium

Healthy Range: 8.6-10.2 mg/dL

My Level: 9.6 

Vitamin D

Healthy Range: 32-100 ng/mL

My Level: 45.6 

Sodium

Healthy Range: 136-145 mmol/L

My Level: 139 

Creatinine

Healthy Range: 0.50-1.10 mg/dL

My Level: 0.89

Potassium

Healthy Range: 3.4-5.1 mmol/L

My Level: 4.8 

Chloride 

Healthy Range: 98-107 mmol/L

My Level: 104 

Bicarbonate

Healthy Range: 22-32 mmol/L

My Level: 23 

Anion Gap

Healthy Range: 7-14My Level: 12 

Blood Urea Nitrogen 

Healthy Range: 6-23 mg/dL 

My Level: 12 

TSH Reflex 

Healthy Range: 0.450-4.500 ulU/mL  

My Level: 1.010 

Electrolytes/Kidney Function: Normal

Hemoglobin/White Blood Cell Count/Platelet Count: Normal

Thyroid Function: Normal

Diabetic Testing: Normal

Wow. I am completely normal. I am within the healthy range in every single area I was tested. That is a wonderful feeling!

I didn't even know what most of these levels represented, so I looked them up. For example, the "anion gap" is a way to measure kidney function, to see if the kidneys are removing enough acid from the body. Many of these other tests (bicarbonate, potassium, sodium, creatinine, chloride) measure various electrolyte levels in the blood, which are a measure of organ function and healthy blood flow.

IMPORTANT: Having been privy to the mass deficiency of vitamin D in the United States (especially in the region where I live), I had been taking vitamin D supplements for about two months prior to this test. I was taking 6000 IU--- six times the daily requirement--- because I knew if I was low I would need to overcompensate until I reached a healthy range. Now I take 2000 IU each day, and while my vitamin D levels were considered normal, they are still on the low end. If you've never had your vitamin D tested, it is vital that you look into it soon. Too little of it can impact so many areas of your health.

My cholesterol levels could also be more balanced, but I know a big part of that is in losing excess weight and being more active, along with eating healthy fats like fish, olive oil, and nuts (and not processed foodstuffs).

It has taken me several years to reach the point where I don't eat fast food, instant meals, heavily processed products, deep-fried foods (most of the time), meat-centric meals, soda, or additives like high fructose corn syrup and aspartame. I had to learn how to look for what was the healthiest option for me, and it took one baby step at a time, starting in 2007 with I began giving up foods containing aspartame.

Now I eat fresh, organic, mostly locally-grown produce with meat as a smaller portion, more of a side dish. I drink water, tea, milk (almond milk, mostly), lemonade, and the occasional glass of wine. I don't keep snacks or treats in the house. I don't think doughnuts sound appealing, so I don't rush to grab one in the office break room on someone's birthday. I think soda tastes too sweet and gross, whereas this time last year I could knock back several cans in a day without thinking. My biggest weakness--- peanut butter cups--- still tempt me, but I can no longer eat a whole bag. Not even close. Four or five mini cups are all I can handle before my tummy objects.

Point being, over several years I have actually changed my body's opinion of what tastes good, of what I crave to eat. Since I'm not feeding it a bunch of fake, processed, fried, modified, unhealthy foods, I can actually feel and understand the signs it gives me. I can only imagine what my blood lab results would have looked like before I started this journey five years ago... what it may have looked like just one year ago.  All I know is that the path I have taken has led me to a very healthy place. The results speak for themselves.

Still to come: how to read "signs" that your body is healthy and happy or angry and lacking. It is possible to be overweight and underfed.

This Week's Spending

 

(Photo Credit) 

My spending this past week has been as follows:

• I paid a medical bill that was due.
• I pre-ordered a DVD of the latest project by my favorite independent filmmaker. Pre-ordering did provide a discount, though the purchase itself wasn't ultimately necessary. Oops...
• I paid off my credit card bill.
• I bought blank DVDs and cases for a freelance project, and was reimbursed.
• I bought almond milk for my breakfast shakes, Greek yogurt, and fresh mozzarella cheese.
• I bought a dress using a $25 gift card plus the extra 15% off. Despite the deal, it was still an unnecessary purchase.  *wince* I need to knuckle down!

Also, I was in my cousin's wedding this weekend, and paid for:

• a fruit plate for the bridal party to share the morning before the weddin
• having my hair don
• my share of the limo bus
• a monetary gift for the wedding couple

Being in someone's wedding is certainly an investment, but I wanted to support my cousin (especially because I was asked to step in for someone who abruptly left the bridal party one month before the big day).

I also made an appointment to take my cat Loki to the vet tomorrow, and there will likely be expenditures related to that. As you may recall, Loki got sick during my spending fast last spring and had to be rushed to the vet. Lately she's been pulling out her fur and I fear she is having an allergic or anxious reaction to something, so I'm taking her in to be tested. I want her to be healthy and happy!

I know in this first week I've spent more than I needed to, but I know that being conscious of my spending has hindered impulse purchases of more clothing and various to-go beverages.

Besides this, I find myself increasingly aware that I am already surrounded by stuff I don't need. Even now, at my work desk, I feel tempted to just swipe my arm across the surface and knock everything away. Being surrounded by too many things creates an unrest in me, and I seek peace by continually poring over everything and thinning it out. This process is undoing years (decades) of habits embedded in my psyche, where spending money and acquiring things is considered a very normal part of life. It felt natural to me once; now it feels inhibiting and binding.  Still, the desire to buy will surface from time to time, and I have to summon my willpower to go against the grain.

Finding value in people and experiences instead of money and things is my ultimate goal here. I want to live well, be well, and treat my world well. The only tough part is unlearning what I know about being a consumer. Making a conscious decision to change is the hardest step.  Having more money for retirement/investments/travel/housing because I don't spend in excess, having better health because I don't buy fast food/junk food/processed food, and spending less time cleaning/fixing/sorting/storing/selling things that I didn't acquire in the first place... these are all very easy. More on this in a later post. For now, I challenge you to become more mindful and aware of what you spend money on, why you value it enough to hand over your wages for it, and if there is a better, healthier, or even greener alternative.

Day 2: Crash

 

(Photo Credit)

What does sugar withdrawal feel like? It feels like a giant pile of suck.

Every time I've modified my eating habits in the past to reduce my intake of refined sugar (found in cookies, candy, processed foods, etc.)  Day Two has offered a very yucky outcome. Just like alcohol withdrawal after a night of too much drinking, the body feels hungover. Around lunch time today, my neck began to stiffen and a headache crept up over the top of my skull. Before I knew it, I was lying down on my bed, my scalp tender to the touch and my stomach fraut with nausea. Within twenty minutes it was all over, but despite my snacking on carrots and hummus and grapes I feel rather sluggish even this afternoon.

The good news is that I know Day Three always feels amazing. What follows the "sugar hangover" is a clarity of the body and mind, and a renewed level of energy that makes the yucky part of Day Two worth enduring.

It also puts a spotlight on just how much our bodies adapt to large quantities of sugar. I literally feel sick because I have stopped ingesting something that is bad for me. You know how drug addicts get the shakes and their symptoms of withdrawal are so terrible that they keep using? Something very similar happens when you deprive your body of sugar.  If a food naturally contains sugar (like many types of produce), the amount is low and very difficult to consume in unsafe amounts. That's not the type of sugar I'm referring to. I'm talking the white granular stuff that comes in little cubes and big bags and in liquid form in soda and energy drinks and juice (yes, most juice is full of added sugar... unless you squeeze it yourself). And those "diet" drinks, "healthy fit" yogurt products, "skim" milk, and "low calorie" snack packs? Those are worse!  Those contain synthetic (read: fake and not grown in the natural world) sweeteners that are multiple times sweeter than actual sugar, making your dependency on them even stronger.

I gave up soda on June 4th and don't miss it one bit. I occasionally drink lemonade or freshly squeezed juice. Other than that, it's tea and water for me. Sometimes I make my own chai lattes with unsweetened almond milk (it's only 30-40 calories per serving and doesn't have the hormones and antibiotic residues found in fat free milk). But I stay away from energy drinks and electrolyte drinks and juice products. Just because a brand claims to have something nutritionally beneficial ("some" real juice, added vitamins or minerals, "natural" ingredients) does NOT mean it is good for you. It means they are trying to sell you a product made from ingredients that started out as a whole food and were transformed beyond recognition (or sometimes pronunciation) and then injected with a little of vitamin whatever.

My best advice would be this, if you are looking to improve your dietary lifestyle: if a food item is good for you, then it doesn't need to be advertised as such. You occasionally see a promo for eggs or oranges or potatoes, but not really. You see ads for things that have been created in labs or modified in some way... and not for the better. They have to advertise to make you want it. A good rule of thumb is to try to stick to the perimeter of the grocery store when shopping, as many of the processed foods are found in the middle aisles. That's also where much of the added sugar hangs out. That's a great place to start when healthy eating transformations seem overwhelming.

If you're ever endured a hangover, then you can survive a sugar withdrawal. Think of it as your body cleansing itself of a poison. You've likely heard of drug overdoses and alcohol poisoning (and what is alcohol anyway, but a bunch of sugar?); too much sugar is also toxic to your body and causes a number of health issues like diabetes and heart disease.

You may be wondering: if sugar is so rotten for you, then why is it legally allowed to be added to so much food? Another good rule of thumb: don't assume the FDA is looking out for your best interest. Their primary goal is to make money. So are the food companies who make these addictive products. So are the pharmaceutical companies who make a fortune off of your illness due to your poor diet. It is much more profitable to so many corporations if you are sick and unhealthy and addicted to sugar than it is to have a population eating whole foods and not depending on medications. It sounds like a gross conspiracy... maybe too radical, you think? Don't take my word for it! I encourage you to do some research.

And lastly, be sure to start somewhere. Have a Day One so you can suffer through Day Two and enjoy the benefits of Day Three and beyond.

Spending Diet, Day 1: Talks Of Retirement

 

(Photo Credit) 

Wait, wasn't this Spending Diet supposed to begin on September 1st? Yes, yes it was. Then I remembered I was having my garage roof re-shingled so I had to pay for that, along with food and beverages for the workers (my wonderful relatives will always do labor if rewarded with a sandwich and a beer). Then the beau and I went to breakfast the next day--- where we split the tab--- followed by the Renaissance Faire--- where he paid for most things but I bought an iced chai latte for $4.00.  Obviously, my Spending Diet was not off to a good start. Today, September 4th, is the new start date. Clean slate!

I decided to embark on this journey again because the results of my Spending Fast were so good. I saved over $900 in just once month by spending money on only what was completely necessary. The experience was pretty extreme, but so were the results.  I'm not going to be as strict this time around, but try to maintain it over a longer period of time. If I can hang on until the end of the year, I should see some pretty impressive changes.

This, of course, was not the only factor in my decision to try a Spending Diet.  My health was an obvious concern (and now the medical bills are tapering off with physical therapy ending next month). However, the notion that most affected me was one that many people my age aren't really thinking about right now: retirement.

Based on my income, inflation costs, interest, and the nest-egg I have already started, I would have to set aside about $200 per month (every month) for the next 37 years if I want to retire by age 65. If I wait one year to start saving, that amount increases to $260 per month. This number quickly increases to an unreasonable rate in a very short amount of time. This isn't about saving up for a relaxing trip to Santorini in my golden years; this is money that I will actually have to live off of when I am retired.

(Side note: I don't think 65 is a scary old age where people stop functioning. In fact, I will likely want to keep active and working beyond that age. It is a good benchmark to use for goal setting, however.)

My parents offered me some very good advice when I was younger: work hard when you are young and able, and then save your money... so when you are older and can't work, you won't need to. (Click here to read an article about the worst retirement investing mistake.)

I really don't think enough people my age consider this. Climbing out of the cycle of living paycheck to paycheck while hacking away at student loans and other debts is daunting enough. Thinking that far into the future is overwhelming! While I am privileged to say that I do not have debt other than my mortgage, I know that is not the case for most. What are the chances any of us have to retire at a decent age?

Right now I set aside an amount of my salary to savings every month. It's only about 10% of my income, and that savings is partitioned into different categories: house fund, travel fund, long-term fund.  The house fund is for repairs, renovations, and unexpected events (like the water heater leaking or tree roots overtaking the drainage pipe). The travel fund rewards me once a year with a trip to somewhere, though I often pull from this fund to pay for other things that are more pertinent. Not nearly enough goes into that long-term fund to meet the rate of saving I should be seeking.

The obvious course of action would be to get a second job. So far I've tried part-time employment and freelance to supplement my income. The latter has been more successful and less-time consuming. The even more obvious action is to spend less with what I already have:

• I don't need to buy those chai lattes (even though they taste good and sometimes I could use the caffeine).
• I don't need to buy that dress (even if it's cute/on sale/the last one).
• I don't need to go out to eat at restaurants (even though I can be exhausted and not feel like cooking, or I'm really in the mood for that amazing lasagna down the street).
• I don't need to have a cocktail (even if it is a nice way to unwind from the week and catch up with friends).
• I don't need to go to the movies (even if everyone is talking about it... because it will eventually be on Netflix and I can wait).

These little amounts add up: $3 here, $10 there, $50 for that dress (but it's just so CUTE! Okay, okay... I'll put it back). And all of that can go into savings... or even better, a Roth IRA (which I plan to open very soon).

Retirement is a huge subject--- especially during this election season--- and I will definitely be returning to it more throughout this journey. But for now, just get those wheels in your head turning about saving not just to get out of debt, not just to have things you want... but to live on when you can't work anymore.