My mum always struggled with food. Her weight burgeoned after she quit smoking in the early sixties. Food became her next addiction. However, really when I think what she used to eat I don’t think she ate excessively – a lot but mainly the wrong types of food.

She was told by a dietitian early in the sixties not to eat white bread as she was probably gluten intolerant – this before it became a buzz word for food intolerance issues! She paid no heed and bread was always her downfall.

I am not going to get in to gluten debate now as there are way too many who know more than me and I would suggest researching this aspect of food, but I would like to discuss is the battle with food many of us have.

I remember those nights of sitting alone at the dinner table after everyone else had left: Staring down at the now cold, limp beans and stew lying untouched on my plate, sobbing and trying to catch my breath from literally an hour of fighting with my mother over not eating.

The battles raged constantly over my eating habits until finally she gave in and allowed me to eat raw vegetables in the afternoon as she prepared the evening meal and she wouldn’t serve me stews allowing me to eat alternatives. (Even now I gag as I think of those meals – It wasn’t her cooking all the time just my likes)

She always made us a three course breakfast which I loved: fruit, cereal, protein of some sort and toast, with a juice. It was a good way to start the day because I rarely ate much thereafter until later in the afternoon.  In the tropics anything other than a crispbread would be a soggy mess by lunch time at school!

Now I look at it, I felt really good after that regime kicked in. Fresh vegetables and fruit as opposed to life sapping cooking, and very little red meat, with some cheese, little bread and minimal sugar – in any form! I felt good!

So fast forward nearly 50 years later and the battle with food continued but this time with me arguing with myself. Sugar entered my life in my late teens, as did caffeine and other forms of nasties. I still preferred, lightly steamed for raw vegetables, and not a great fan of red meat but introduced breads, pastas, and rice and other foods that didn’t agree with me. So now after years of progressive weight gain, and digestion issues I am discovering the theory of the “leaky gut” syndrome.

Autoimmunesecrets.com really offers some amazing insights into areas that I have struggled with, (to the point of feeling suicidal, the same as described by one gentleman on this program). I had to find out answers pretty much for myself because Doctors couldn’t find answers with traditional testing, and thanks to my naturopath who persevered, we discovered food intolerance that were literally crippling me and causing me incredible pain.

My battle with food seemed to continue but in a different form, me against my body! Lately however, after hearing some of these ideas from the guys above I really feel like I have come to a better understanding with my body – “I will do what I can and body, you need to do what you do well!”

I have always been thankful for my body but the struggle was real. I am now addressing the gut and really concentrating on eating as I did when I felt well – eat well during the morning and afternoon, light at night. I still have some limitations but trusting that soon I might be able to incorporate night shades back in to my diet once again. In the meantime addressing the gut issues has resulted in loss of weight, and inches, as well as feeling well – my main focus always!

Isagenix Products

Ensuring I have enough of the correct vitamins and minerals, and utilizing other supplements to increase my energy levels and boost metabolism has been a major key to wellness. A customer asked me recently what I was using from the Isagenix range of products.

 Click here to see the some of the products I am using. I really recommend the cleanse regime to begin with and then follow up with the vitamins and energy drinks to keep going! Cleanse for life and I loooove the Ionix Supreme drink for warding off sickness or strengthening the immune system.  People comment on cost but my doctors visits or lack thereof over the past 4 years is testament to keeping healthy. I also calculated the cost of shakes and bars and find that it is very cost effective as meal replacements for a period. I also find that the amount of ingredients is usually over other comparative products – a nice bonus.

One other thing I am doing is working with my health program on my Samsung phone. It keeps track of my calorie intake, and usage, as well as my sleep. I am competitive by nature so competing monthly with one million other users and being in the top 2 or 3 percent in terms of steps per month is a great incentive for me! Find what works for you and use whatever it takes to release those pounds, into the blue yonder!

My accountability now sees me having released only abut 5.5 kilos or 12 pounds over a few weeks about 1 kilo or 2 pounds a week, a nice steady amount, and the inches are dropping and muscle is returning to areas that haven’t seen it for some time! My shoulders are thankful for the chest drop let me tell you!

Health is a journey but stay focused; do what you need to to stay motivated. I look forward to hearing some of you share about your journey to healthy living!

Blessings for now

Until next time Narelle