Just Getting Back...

Hi All!

Whew! I haven't posted in a LONG time! Life got in the way for sure. I just finished my studies and have been awarded my Ph.D in Natural Health and my H.D. (Hygienic Doctor) degree. Give me a chance to catch my breath and I'll be back shortly to begin posting again. Lots of stuff I want to share with you!  Love, Ana 

The Fat on Fats

~Please note that some of what follows might be disturbing to some, due to its graphic nature~

Have you viewed the DVD, called "Eating"? [There is another DVD, called "A Diet for All Reasons," which is equally compelling.] Well, it was enough to scare me away from overeating on fats! One part of this DVD dealt with a man who was in the process of having a heart attack. In the emergency room, the attending doctor drew this patient's blood for the usual battery of tests. Within a few minutes, the drawn blood in the beaker separated, and the excess blood fat floated to the top of the blood--just like the fat in, say, chicken broth separates and floats to the top of the broth. (I inquired about this phenomenon, called "lipemia," to a phlebotomist I knew, and she described how sickeningly disgusting and smelly this is!) One of the truly amazing things about this is that it occurs every time we overeat on fats! It isn't a slow, gradual occurrence. It happens EVERY time we overeat fats. 

The DVD also showed an example of blood fat in the bloodstream. It looked just like melted butter swishing around in the arteries. Then it showed blood fat derived from animal fat, which had actually coagulated to form a rubbery coating on the walls of the blood vessels. This is known as "plaque," and it leads to atherosclerosis, commonly known as hardening of the arteries. The surgeon on the DVD very graphically pulled this rubbery tube-shaped plaque away from the vessel walls, using tweezers. It looked just like a yellow-colored vein! Although plaque is a rubbery consistency, it eventually literally hardens in the arteries, by transforming into a thick, stony wall inside the blood vessels; hence, the literal "hardening" of the arteries.

It takes little stretch of the imagination to comprehend that, in the presence of fat swishing around in your blood, or the rubbery plaque, or stony walls of atherosclerosis, in your arteries, very little by way of oxygen, nutrients, hormones, enzymes, etc., are getting through these barriers to the cells, where they do their work. Moreover, the presence of excess blood fat can cause a backup in your blood of such things as toxins, leading to untold numbers of diseases and disorders. 

Imagine this--or better--DO this as an object lesson: Scoop up some butter, margarine, shortening, lard, vegetable oil, or other "free" fat, like peanut butter, and massage the greasy goo into your hands. Experience its stickiness and the way it coats your skin; notice how it creates an actual barrier on your skin, preventing anything else you apply to your skin from penetrating it. Now, try to rinse the fat off with water. It won't budge, will it? In fact, it seems to get slimier and stickier! Well, that's what fat is doing, quite literally, in your blood stream!

When you eat "free" (also known as, "overt") fats and eat fatty foods to excess, the greasy fat coats your blood vessel walls, enzymes, nutrients, and everything else in your blood--good and bad--and prevents their movement out of the blood to their ultimate destinations. The transfer of blood sugar and nutrients into your cells is inhibited; everything gets backed up in the bloodstream, and the proper functioning of every bodily process is thwarted. 

Dr Graham describes the consequences of a high-fat diet in his book, "The 80/10/10 Diet." He writes, "A steady flow of research comes out regularly relating high-fat diets to almost every type of digestive disturbance, blood disorder, and degenerative disease. Much of this is caused by the body's reduced ability to uptake, transport, and deliver oxygen to our trillions of cells...In addition, too much fat reduces the actual number of viable red blood cells. Excessive fat consumption may be commonplace, but it is nothing short of a nutritional disaster." 

Have I put you off of eating excessively and inappropriately of fats? No? Well, read on. Here are some more facts about fats and the consequences of its excessive consumption, in no particular order:

1. There is a difference between food fat and body fat. Optimal body fat is derived from carbohydrates, whose excess is stored as body fat; in-optimal body fat is derived from food fat, which contributes no nutrients and can only add to your health problems.

2. Although fats are important macronutrients for our bodies, we need exceptionally little dietary fat for the optimal functioning and health of our bodies--so little, in fact, that we don't have to eat any "free" fats whatsoever to get enough. ALL overeating of fats contribute nothing but problems for our bodies.

3. Fats are extremely difficult for the body to digest. They require more time than carbohydrates and proteins to digest. So, when fats are eaten with other foods, the fats delay their digestion by 2-3 hours more that it would take them to digest when eaten without fats. Meanwhile, these carbohydrates and proteins ferment and putrefy in the stomach, becoming toxins in the body.

4. It takes a full 24 hours for fat to clear from your bloodstream. On a high fat diet, more fat is coming in everyday, if not at every meal, so there is little chance of your bloodstream clearing ever of excess blood fat.

5. Due to the difficulty of fat digestion, it is possible for fats to be only partially broken down by the body. Doctors can biopsy belly fat and tell you what animal or fat source it came from!

6. Even on a "healthy" diet, tossing a vegetable salad with oil or salad dressing only serves to coat the greens and vegetables with a nasty, greasy layer of fat and prevents the breakdown and absorption of their nutrients until the fat clears. By then, fermentation has probably already occurred, so the salad ends up being a toxic mess. 

7. Food fats, in general, can be broken down into two basic categories--"fat-soluble" fats and "water-soluble" fats. Water-soluble fats are those fats found in whole, raw fruits and vegetables. You can detect water-soluble fats by the fact that they don't leave an oily residue on your hands and dishes, and they can by rinsed away easily with water (without the aid of soap). They are the optimal fats--the only fats our body uses effectively and efficiently. All other fats are fat-soluble and they only serve to wreck havoc on our bodies (not to mention dishes, dish towels, etc., without the aid of soap). 

8. Products of digestion are transported in a water medium. Since fat-soluble fats are not soluble in water and are incapable of being transported in water, they have to undergo special changes in order for these processes to occur, requiring extra metabolic steps--and hence, the waste of precious vital energy.

9.  There are 4 sources of fat in today's SAD diet. They are: water-soluble fats of whole, raw fruits and vegetables; free (overt) fats, as in concentrated oils and avocados, coconuts, nuts and seeds; animal fats; and the newest (and scariest) fat on the market: chemical fats. These are the most dangerous fats known. Chemical fats are petroleum by-products, which are found in ice cream, synthetic coffee cream, artificial butters and margarine, manufactured pastries and cookies, peanut butter, and junk foods. These fats are also known as "plastic" fats. They are dangerous because they aren't even recognized by the body as food. Additionally, since they have only been in existence for a decade or so, their effects on the body are completely unknown.

10. Studies reveal that infants fed on artificial baby formula are shown to have large amounts of cholesterol already deposited in their arteries by their first year of life.

11. Here is a non-exhaustive list of diseases and disorders associated with excess fat consumption: heart diseases, stroke, diabetes, cancers, obesity, auto-immune disease (arthritis, asthma, fibromyalgia, impaired circulation, hearing loss, mental disorders, loss of concentration, mental fogginess, baldness, hormonal disorders, shortness of breath, ageing, dizziness, tissue damage, candida, pancreatic fatigue, adrenal fatigue (aka chronic fatigue), insomnia, malnutrition...

12. Humans cannot taste fat; they can only (sometimes) detect its texture.

13. Because humans need so little fat, and because fat is found in every food known, we have no inherent craving capacity for fats; so, if you sense you crave fat, think again. It's impossible. (Although it is possible to miss the habit of feeling its greasy texture in your mouth) 

14.  Because humans aren't designed to eat fats other than the water-soluble fats of whole fruits and vegetables, we have no natural mechanism for signaling we've eaten enough (water-soluble) fats.

15.  Contrary to popular belief, oils are not good for dry skin. Dry skin is due to impaired function of the sebaceous glands and not a lack of oil in the diet.

16.  Fat-soluble fats go rancid very, VERY quickly, and become carcinogenic. Due to the rapidity of rancidity, it would be difficult to find a concentrated oil or oily food at the market that hasn't already gone rancid.

17. Cooked fats prevent the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.

Our bodies are designed to eat a low-fat diet. When we add extra fat to our diets we gum up our beautiful bodies, inhibit their natural, healthy functioning, and set ourselves up for practically every disease and disorder known. A high-fat diet will cause us absolutely nothing but trouble! This is true even for raw-foodists who feed on exorbitant amounts of so-called "good fats." The absolute best diet we can eat is one exclusively of fresh, raw, ripe organic fruits, supplemented with adequate amounts of leafy greens and vegetables. No raw seeds and nuts are needed. This diet provides us with the exact amounts and percentages of healthful, water-soluble fats, and it presents us with extremely little chance of overeating eating fats.

But if, for whatever reason, you find yourself unable or unwilling to eat of such a diet, above all, make the first criterion of your alternate choice of diet LOW FAT. Do this as if your life depended on it!

Why, oh WHY??

My latest favorite word is "why?" Actually, it's sort of evolved now into a phrase of fascination, like "Oh really? Why?" and the ever more probing, "Wow. What's your evidence for that?" My love affair with "why?" started right after a friend of ours recommended a movie for us to see. It was awwwful. I mean REALLY bad--loads of gratuitous sex, female bashing, violence...the works. So, later, when I ran into the guy who recommended it, I asked him why he recommended the movie, he replied, "Oh wow, man, cuz it was soooo raunchy!" Lessoned learned. Mental note: when someone tells you something, always ask why?

So, a couple of days ago as I was buzzing through one of those warehouse superstores with my supersized grocery cart in tow, I passed one of the ladies who does the sampling of the foods they sell and had a chance to put my new word into action.  She was handing a sample of soy bratwurst to one of her unwitting victims and said, "Soy is the healthiest food on the planet." Screech! I brought my cart to a halt in front of her station and asked, "Oh really?.......why?" 

The both of them stared at me for a moment and the guy chimed in, "Yeah, why?"

"Because it's a fact," she replied in total disbelief at my question, "everybody knows that!"

"Yeah, but....why?" I continued my probing. 

"Cuz ever since I was I little girl, I was told that." She was getting irritated by now.

"So what kind of health properties does soy provide?" I couldn't stop myself.

"Huh." She took a deep breath and rolled her eyes. "Total body benefits! Where have you been?" I think she wanted to add "you jerk" to the end of her explanation.

"So it does everything good for you?" I was on a roll.

"Yup." 

And here's the my zinger clincher question: ".....What's your evidence for that?"

End of discussion.

With so much thrown at us these days, and with so much information available through the Internet, the TV, radio and so on, I think we've become very sensitized to the rot people heave on us and often times just take it in stride. We're too busy and overwhelmed to actually think about what's being said, much less insist that people back up their information with hard core facts. The really wrong part about it is that, eventually, mindless statements just get woven into our discourse so much that we begin to accept it as the truth. That's how this lady could so easily back up her "facts" with the blanket statement, "everybody knows that!" Well, honey, that don't make it fact...

Intrigued, I spent some time in front of the TV really listening to what kind of baloney is being fed to us on an institutionalized level. Let me share with you some of the so-called statements of "fact" that came from the food channel and the Fit TV channel:

"A great way to get your kids to eat fruit is to put raisins in your cookie recipes."

"Put salt in the water when you steam your vegetables to bring out their flavors and nutrients."

"Drizzle with olive oil to make it heart-healthy."

"To neutralize unhealthy excess salt [in your recipe], add some sugar."

"Nuts are a high energy snack. Stick them in your purse and in kids' lunch boxes for a high energy pick-me-up anytime."

"Ground chicken breast and extra lean ground pork are perfect protein sources and they have NO fat!"

"For a healthy snack, only use egg whites (in your recipes) because egg white is where all the protein is; so they're REALLY good for you. It's the egg yolks that have all the bad stuff."

"Add 1/2 cup sugar to the water when you make couscous, for the perfect healthy snack."

"This [brand x] contains more vitamin C than a glass of milk."

"To make your everyday hamburgers better for you, top with slices of tomato and lettuce, and swap out the processed cheese for blue cheese--this one's made from goat, cow and sheep's milk!"

Don't give your kids nasty sodas, instead blend 1 2/2 cups pomegranate juice concentrate with 1 1/2 cups of cranberry juice and 1 1/2 cups sugar syrup and blend with club soda for a healthy beverage on those hot summer days."

"To give your artichoke dip a healthy twist, substitute yogurt for the mayonnaise and use mozzarella cheese instead of cheddar cheese."

"To make your indoors more natural and healthy, make your own picture frames out of twigs your kids collected..."

"If you have arthritis or aching joints, drink this [brand x]. It goes straight to your joints and makes them really juicy." 

With statements like these proliferating all over the TV and elsewhere, how's a girl (and guy) supposed to steer her own canoe??  How can we make good decisions when the information we're exposed to so clearly undermines clear, informed thinking? That's why I've started asking the "Why" and "What's your evidence for that?" questions.  Even though I have yet to get a good answer for my queries--and I doubt I'll change the world by asking them--at least I can keep the ball in my court by empowering myself proactively, instead of just turning a blind eye. 

My Unconscious Ritual

Last night, I discovered that I have been doing this unconscious ritual whenever I intend on embarking on something new, for example, ramping up my exercise routine, going raw, fasting, and doing tasks that I found to be stressful, like job hunting, traveling, etc. It's a 3-point process that goes like this:

1. I work on envisioning actually doing it and having it as a part of me. This isn't like visualization, but more like getting myself to the point that I can actually identify with it. It's "me." This can be quick or take a long time.  

2. I go into this hydration routine where I drink lots of water and, often, fresh juices. It seems to make me more alert and does something to my emotional energy levels. 

3. I sleep. I find that getting an abundance of sleep makes me more prepared to accept something new into my life. I think it, too, has something to do with mustering lots of vital energy to put toward the project. 

This process might take several days or weeks, even; I'm not sure. As a matter of fact, until last night, entirely aware that I was even doing it. Let me explain...

For the past couple of weeks, I've been thinking about refining my Natural Hygiene "practice" because I think I've been slacking a bit. I've only been partly aware I've been thinking about doing this. Thoughts pulling me in this direction have just been kind of mulling around in my head as I've been doing something else, like dusting or washing dishes or doing Sudoku puzzles or otherwise solving the world's problems. 

Then, last night, when I was watching TV and my brain was in "incubation-mode," I suddenly got this urge to drink a whole bunch of freshly-squeezed orange juice. It wasn't a craving, but rather just a mental note to make a load of oj in the morning. Then, I dreamed making orange juice and drinking it. Why? I wondered. Well then it came to me: I'm in my (unconscious) ritual mode! 

Upon reflection, I realize that I've been doing this ritual for some time. I think it might have to do with summoning up lots of vital energy and preparing myself for the change of habit. Of course, I can't prove that any of this works. I just do it. 

Do you have a similar ritual you go through?  

Question #1

I'm in question-mode right now. Here's question #1:  What are/were your (compelling) reasons for going raw? 

So It Appears Darwin (and Mom) Was Right

Recently, there was a discussion of beauty and cosmetics usage, etc. on Sarah's blog, which I found really interesting. So I thought I would post some ideas on the subject today. I've been doing a bit of research on this subject myself, through literature on Natural Hygiene and a couple of lectures and books by genetic psychologists and researchers. I'll try to keep what I've learned fairly brief, with the hopes that I don't leave too much background information out that might hinder understanding. Cos, let me tell you, what I've learned has been surprising.

Hygienically speaking, authorities on Natural Hygiene agree that one of the conditions of optimal health is aesthetic enjoyment--the love of beauty and being beautiful. Making ourselves beautiful and enjoying beauty around us IS delightful and natural to us. I personally believe that's why, as a society, we seem so preoccupied with diet, exercise, tanning, clothes, etc. I believe that deep down in we KNOW we should be the picture of health and beauty (even though we might go about this in really unhealthy and synthetic ways).  

As it turns out, there is genetic evidence for our desire to be beautiful, and our species is pretty specific about what constitutes human beauty. In his book, The Moral Animal, Robert Wright gives us a scholarly description of the criteria for human beauty, which, by the way, is programmed right into our genes. (Despite its intellectual density, this book is a stunner and very revealing. I plan to write more about what I'm learning later.) The findings in Wright's book are supported by some lectures I attended several months ago. 

Before I proceed, I realize that the information I am sharing might be surprising and, in some ways, unsettling, owing to our current cultural values. I admit I was caught by surprise, since on the surface it seems so frighteningly retrogressive. But this is why I want to share it with you. However, this book is extremely well-researched and well-documented and is considered authoritative reading for students of evolutionary psychology. In fact, it's been required reading in universities.  I do hope you'll read on and share your impressions. And if you're so inclined, pick up a copy of the book and read for yourself what genetic research has uncovered.

Since the fundamental objectives of all living species are survival and reproductive success, all species have adapted certain desirable traits to attract and, in certain cases retain, reproductive partners, as well as to ensure survival. (Whether we want to admit it or not, attractive members of society do get a bigger slice of the proverbial pie--genetics helps to ensure this.) We humans are no different, and as it turns out, we are quite specific about what we instinctively (and mostly unconsciously) prefer in a mate.  The following are some highlights, beginning with physical characteristics and then touching on some emotional ones. 

Please note that I am speaking in highly generalized and simplified terms and NOT about any one particular person or group of people here!

While our species has specific ideas about human beauty and attractiveness, they are sexually differentiated; that is, men have their ideas about beauty and attractiveness and women have theirs. They are not alike, but they go hand-in-hand. So, I'll break each description down along gender lines.  But, first, let's start with some common, universal principles. 

What both genders look for in mates

All humans--male and female--are genetically attracted to people who give the impression of genetic fitness. (Apparently, the genes are receptive to being fooled--judicious deception genetically instilled as well.) We naturally incline toward mates who appear healthy and anatomically symmetrical and who seem up to the task of producing and raising healthy offspring. This is regardless of whether you want children or whether you are beyond childbearing years. 

Likewise, we are universally repelled by any overt physical attributes that indicate genetic "unfitness" which might be passed on to offspring--acne and other skin conditions, disease, bad teeth, body odor, offensive bodily noises, deformity, etc. That "ick" response we sometimes feel toward certain people is genetically, not socially, driven.

Both males and females, too, are in search of lifelong mates, since we are a "pair-bonding" species; so genetically generated emotional and psychological elements come into play, too. Specifically, males look for faithful wives and females look for trustworthy husbands, and both genders look for respectability (for themselves and in each other); for these are what humans for millenia have found to ensure long term survival and reproductive success. 

Women's Perspective: What constitutes male beauty and attractiveness?

In general, women are attracted to men with shapely torsos--broad shoulders and chests and slim waists. Women are enormously attracted to--get this--a scruffy appearance (Dr McDreamy?), but only during ovulation; otherwise they want men to look well-groomed and respectable (how ever the society in which they live defines them). Women look for things that indicate a man's prowess, strength, and virility (ie, his ability to protect and provide in the literal sense), as well those things that amplify his "maleness"--thicker, coarser skin, face and body hair, the smell of pheromones, large hands, etc.

Now, an interesting thing about females is that they seem only to be sexually attracted to these traits in three-dimensional form--he's gotta be in person. Male beauty shown in two-dimensional form, as in magazines and photos, do nothing for females. Not so for males--they get excited for the female form in ANY medium they can get it! 

Another notable characteristic of female tastes is that she is very flexible with her man's physical appearance, because she's got many more things to concern herself with when choosing her mate. "Beauty," for a woman is also emotionally driven. Her #1 criterion is his trustworthiness. Is he really who he presents himself as? He is harboring unseen disease? Will he stick around? Male parental investment (MPI) is foremost in her mind. This can be explained by the very obvious fact that she only has one egg a year (contrast with billions of sperm a man has) that could possibly materialize as a child, followed by a lifetime of personal investment. So, she HAS to be choosy. This explains why, compared to men, women are more coy and less eager for sex (enjoyable as it is...). (The book has a lot to say about casual sex, but I'll save that for another time.)

Furthermore, a man has to do a LOT of convincing that he will not wander emotionally. While sexual infidelity is highly undesirable, woman tend to feel most threatened by emotional abandonment, which she rarely, if ever, can forgive.  So--ingeniously--one adaptation females have accepted and encouraged in males is that of showing male emotional fidelity is by plying women with gifts and whispering sweet nothings into their ears. These, in fact, can override practically any physical "beauty" flaw a man might have.   

Male Perspective: What constitutes female beauty and attractiveness?

Robert Wright describes the genetically driven preferences of males, too. He writes that men instinctively seek out women who are younger (longer reproductive potential), although the mere appearance of youth can overcome chronological age (Remember, genes--and humans, as it turns out--aren't averse to being fooled, so long as there's a pay-off); thus, providing strong incentive to, and justification for, women to persist in their quest for beauty no matter what age or circumstance.

Two physical features that indicate a woman's youth are large eyes and a small nose. Evidently, eyes appear smaller and the nose appears larger age we age. ...Didn't know that! I guess that explains the rush to makeup counters and plastic surgeons! 

Another potent reason to be tempted to rush to the cosmetics counter is this thing called "cryptic ovulation." Now, admittedly, this is pure deception at its best, but deception is not a no-no when it comes to attracting and retaining a mate, genetically speaking. Males are especially attracted to women when they are ovulating. This is apparent physically--the color of women's irises deepen, lips go plump, cheeks go rosy, breasts swell, etc. Well, women's genes impel women to "fool" men into thinking they are ovulating even when they aren't, by making women decorate themselves so they appear to be ovulating (hence the term, cryptic ovulation). After all, a guy doesn't consciously know a woman is ovulating unless she tells him! Women having been using this trick since time immemorial, and we're no different today. If you take a look at the types of cosmetics women use, you can readily see that what women are doing is emphasizing those very features that intensify during ovulation: mascara and eyeliner to enlarge and define the eyes, blush to, well, "blush" the cheeks, lipstick to plump and redden the lips, even push-up bras to make the bosom appear perky! So, apparently, there is some deeper genetic rationale going on here...

The other enormous physical appeal is a woman's sensuality--that is, her ability to inspire a man's touch. It doesn't necessarily matter what a woman's weight or shape are (unless they're a gross indication of genetic unfitness), but whether she's "touchable." Especially appealing is touching the curve where her waist and hips meet, and the hips themselves (who knew?) and caressing her smooth, soft skin. (Mental note: pick up that new moisturizer at the store!)

There are emotional and psychological aspects to male attraction as well. The absolutely essential requirement is a woman's demonstration of fidelity--that she won't screw around (and therefore confuse him as to which kids he's supposed to love and provide for). Like women have adapted "anti-deception" genes, men have adapted "anti-cuckholdry" genes that are VERY strong. They reflect on his status, power, and respectably, not to mention his parental role (again, genetically driven impulses). 

Studies show that for a man, an unfaithful mate is THE worst of all repulsion. So, in addition to physical beauty, a woman must demonstrate character traits that convince a man that she'll remain faithful. He looks for modesty and signs of complete, long term devotion to him. Extensive research reveals that dressing modestly and  possessing a "delightful demeanor" toward the male, and to a certain extent toward others (since it is an indication of marital harmony and happiness), are the most potent signs of fidelity. 

Now here's the rub: studies show that when a woman dresses provocatively and shows aggressive body language, males will be attracted, BUT they will moderate the amount of long term investment in the relationship. The same studies show that, when an entire society of women start dressing provocatively and behaving aggressively, they actually influence the amount of investment the men commit as a whole, sending the society into the vortex of increasingly casual sex and decreasingly male marital and parental investment, as well as contributing to social violence. I'm not kidding! 

Of course, this appears to put the onus on women,; but on the flip-side, it shows how much practical influence and power they have in their society...

What I've included here are some specific features that humans find are associated with beauty and attractiveness. But, as you can see, there is a lot of room for cultural interpretation. For example, each society decides for itself what "dressy modestly," "behaving demurely," and "demonstrating trustworthiness" means. And each woman has to decide what devices she'll employ when nature calls cryptic ovulation into play. 

To these ends, as Natural Hygienists, this is where we center our discussions. It's not so much should we beautify and attract--nature already determined that for us; but rather what methods do we find acceptable? Is it "hygienic" to use synthetic makeup and grooming products? [Probably not, if we consider only aspects of physical health, but not so clear if we are suddenly faced with marital crisis...] Moreover, to what extent and frequency of usage do they contribute to our natural impulses without becoming pathological (this is where self-esteem issues come into play)? And how do we pass this delicate balance on to our children? 

And this isn't just a topic for female hygienists, either. After all...how many male hygienists do you know who don't shave? 

What I am coming to conclude is that what matters is highly personal and relative. Each of us arrives at what we find is conducive to our comfort and survival/thrival. And I suppose it will always be a sliding scale, being subtly adjusted as from circumstance to circumstance.

I would really love to hear your input on this topic. Please share with me your ideas!   

Cruisin'

Steven and I just got back from our cruise to Mexico. The trip was an award for Steven from his job, where he was top producer last year. There were others from his company on the trip with us who won similar distinction, too. It was an amazing trip in so many ways. My dear, dear Stevie and I reconnected so sweetly. Stevie's just a doll and is getting so good at understanding and fulfilling my (emotional) needs, and on this trip he didn't let me down! I truly couldn't ask for a better lifelong mate. And I was successful at accomplishing some social goals--like spending time with one of the head honchos of the company where Steve works, and overcoming that strange shyness that comes with socializing with strangers. With these things I impressed myself.

But where I wasn't so successful was with sticking to my health commitment. Actually...it appears I didn't have a health commitment, because in all honesty I didn't give this any thought whatsoever. I just assumed this was a given. Two years ago on a similar cruise--but on a different cruise line--eating raw fruits and veggies and exercising weren't issues. There were gobs and gobs of fruits everywhere and I easily enjoyed plentiful bananas, oranges, melons and berries. Plus, it was a physically active cruise. We were in the Bahamas, so there was lots of volleyball, swimming, walking, etc.  So this time, I assumed it would be the same situation. Wrong! 

First, this was a more structured cruise, so our days were more or less pre-planned. It basically went like this: Each morning we docked in a port and then loaded up on busses for guided tours (hence, lots and lots of sitting). We'd return to the ship at 4:30 and then had to be ready for our assigned dinner hour of 5:30, so no chance of exercise before meals. Those who did exercise (all two of them), did so after dinner, by jogging and briskly walking around the pool's deck (4 circuits = 1 mile). Stevie and I joined in, but, let me tell you this was hard, because...  

...for the first two and a half days aboard ship, there was no fruit to be found, except green bananas, crunchy cantaloupe, processed juice and bitter, insipid iceberg lettuce. Talk about messing me up! I was so terribly hungry and totally caught off guard by these unexpected snags. 

Now, they say that the true sign of character is how well you work your "Plan B." Only problem was, silly me didn't HAVE a Plan B!  In fact, I all but abandoned  Plan A! I underestimated how easy it is to completely forget your normal routine when you're out of your element. There just aren't the normal visual cues that you rely on for reinforcement. And forget relying on what others are doing. Our shipmates were drinking like fish and eating like pigs and phoning us at 3 AM to go out and party with them. So....

...sadly, I succumbed to eating--I can't even say it--"other people food." Oh my gosh, it was the worst ever. It was so gross, I don't even like thinking about it. And I felt terrible--bloated, thirstier than I ever remember being (Did I mention that there was no bottled water available?), massively headachy, and oh-so moody! What an indigestible mess. All I kept thinking about was how I was literally carrying dead food around with me in my tummy, like a mother kangaroo carryies her joey, wherever I went, cuz it just wouldn't digest! 

Thank goodness by dinner on the third day glorious fresh fruits magically appeared--yummy fresh guava, honeydew, cantaloupe, watermelon, oranges, apples, pears and prunes, and fresh greens, carrots, tomatoes, bell peppers, walnuts and sunflower seeds! I caused quite a stir with my ship-mates when, at dinner, I loaded up two huge plates of fruits and greens and stuffed four bananas in my tote bag and proceeded to devour everything in one sitting! Then, I went back and loaded my tote with MORE bananas and took them back to my suite for later, uncertain whether fruits would continue to be available for the rest of our journey. Thankfully, I was able to eat "sanely" for the last three days of the cruise. It short time, I began to feel more alert and energetic and happy again. 

I still haven't fully recovered from the effects of the awful cooked food that I ate. My intestines feel clogged, I'm bloated, and I still have a persistent dull headache (not to mention the occasion craving for SAD food), but I'm on the road to recovery in the comfort of my raw kitchen here at home. I tell you, I was like a crazed animal at the market when I got home, as my kitchen countertops can attest! They are overflowing with papayas, bananas, watermelon, mangos, strawberries, and oranges as I am transitioning into this season's new offerings. 

So, what did I learn from this?  First, as 'anal' as this sounds, it's important to make a chart of my everyday health routine to carry with me, just like my mom did when I was ten and going off to summer camp, as a reminder of the basics--you know, like "brush your teeth, say your prayers, wash your face and hands," etc. I can always adjust it as necessary when I get to my destination. But at least I won't completely abandon my routine. Here's what mine might look like:

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9 AM: Exercise  (minimum of 30 minutes cardio and 10 minutes calisthentics, remember to focus on your abs and butt)

Shower, groom, and dress

11 AM: Meal #1:  2 pounds juicy fruit and cucumbers or celery

2:40 PM: 20 minutes exercise (walking-jogging, stair climbing, or biking)

3 PM: Fruit smoothie snack

6:40 PM: 20 minutes exercise (see above)

7 PM: Meal #2 large salad, raw soup and fruit

8:30 PM: Shower

Review tomorrow's agenda, prep tomorrow's clothes and other items

9 PM: To bed!

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Second, Expect the Unexpected and Flesh Out A Plan B. 

Given that I was virtually captive on a ship, which didn't permit bringing my own food and water on board, this would have been challenging in this case, so some really creative solution making would be in order--maybe contacting the ship prior to departing?

Plan B could include an "acceptable emergency food list" (actually, Doug Graham's wife, Rozi, help me create a list like this once--I'll have to go dig it up); and an "alternative exercise routine," which could be done anywhere, like yoga and pilates in my room, etc.

Finally, maybe I could have soft peddled that whole "I want to blend in with the group" thing I had going on this trip. Let's face it, Stevie and I are kind of a strange pair--He's a cute little foreigner and I...well...I steer my own strange little canoe... But, since this was the first time I was with this particular set of Steven's work friends, I just didn't want to rock this particular boat! 

You know, upon reflection, maybe I shouldn't take it so seriously. It was just five days out of my life. We had a great time, I met some really crazy people, and I had the opportunity to actually see how much I've progressed in my health quest. All in all, I think I can accept that. So, I guess I'll just keep cruisin.