Demystifying CRON

The process usually goes like this... People visit my blog, find my picture and description, see "CRONista", stop and wonder, check the "faq" tab, find nothing about "CRONista" there, wonder some more, and then depending on whether they really care or not, they either shrug and move on to other stuff or find my email and question me.

I love getting questions about Calorie Restriction - Optimal Nutrition, aka CRON. There are a lot of misconceptions about it, and although I've only been practicing it for 2 years and spent the last year more off the wagon than on, I believe in this fabulously healthy way of eating and will do what I can to clear any confusion others may have...

... as long as you're open-minded and not just here to criticize.

Standard Disclaimer: Don't take this post as a "you must do this" lecture. It's not. There is no perfect way of eating for everyone. We are all different, and we all have different lifestyles. CRON is what feels right for me. On CRON, I've felt my healthiest, had the most energy, felt most clear minded, and looked my best. And for heaven's sake, see your healthcare provider and tell them if you're going to change your diet and/or activity level in any way... it's just common sense.
[rant] Oh, and save the "your way sucks" drivel for the bible-thumpers at your front door. [/rant]

So here, I answer the 5 questions I've been asked most about CRON, describing how I practice it and hopefully dispelling any myths you may have heard.

1 - Uh, what's CRON?
CRON stands for Calorie Restriction Optimum Nutrition. Research conducted by biosphere2 physician Dr. Roy Walford showed that, by restricting calories and eating only nutrient-dense food, you can improve your health and extend your life.
Think of it as a "low-calorie/eat-no-crap" diet.
The lower you go, the longer the life. Some people (like me) do moderate-CRON, which is primarily obesity avoidance, which does extend life by avoiding cancer, some mental illnesses, as well as, of course, diseases associated with obesity.
Other CRONies participate try to go as low cal as they can in an effort to truly prolong life; many of these fine folk participate in scientific studies to verify in humans what has already been proven in many other species: that calorie restriction does improve and extend life.

2 - This is just another cookie cutter, fad diet, isn't it?
Not really, because you are only given 2 "rules", and the rest is up to you. You can go vegetarian, low-carb, ayurvedic, alkaline-balanced, etc. as long as the calories are controlled and no empty calories!
To eat this way, you actually have to think. First of all, you have to decide how low in calories to go. Then, you have to make a conscious decision to eat one thing that will nourish you versus eat another thing that will nourish you less. Your calories are restricted so you have to make each one count.

3 - Is it a starvation diet? It sounds like it!
No, it's not a starvation diet because you try to ensure that you get ALL of the vitamins and minerals dictated by the RDA.
As for calorie levels, depending on what your physician and biomarkers (blood pressure, cholesterol level, starting weight, blood glucose levels, BMI, etc.) tell you, you decide on a level of calorie intake that is best for you.
Do you want to go moderate? Do you want to go full-CRON? You have to factor in your level of activity, your lifestyle, if you have a family (people under the age of 21 should NOT do CRON), if you do a lot of socializing where food is involved, among many other things.

It's a quality of life diet. If your workouts are suffering, if you have to eat out a lot for your job, if mealtimes at home are getting tough, don't be afraid to bring calories up a little.

4 - Do I have to count every single calorie? That sounds rather obsessive and extreme.
I don't, but if that's what you want to do, go ahead. Many of my fellow CRONies have a great deal of success doing that. In fact, there are even online/desktop programs designed to keep track of calories and nutrients - here's a good one that many CRONies use.
But if you don't want to calorie count, you seriously don't have to. :)
I've tried it, and it doesn't work for me. Like other CRONies, I've learned to listen to my body's signals. I try to eat slowly, so I can detect when I'm full. I practice what the long-lived Okinawan people call hara hachi bu, which basically means "eat until 80% full".
I avoid empty calories and high-cal/low-nutrient foods, like many grains.
I monitor my weight. I know where I should be, and if I creep up too high, I slowly - over a matter of weeks - I bring it back down.
This is not a "how many pounds can I drop in 2 weeks?" kind of diet, because that kind of practice would make people sick. You want to maintain good health... otherwise, don't do CRON at all.

5 - CRON is just another eating disorder
Personally, I think over-eating is an eating disorder, and so many in North America do that and no one says anything.
Really, people who do have eating disorders are those who tend to hate their bodies, want to harm themselves, or just don't care.
If you're just looking to do those things to yourself by cutting your calories, you aren't doing CRON! Simple as that. CRON is a way for people to feel good and stay healthy, and for many extend their lives.

Okay, that's all. I could talk about this so much longer, but I do want to get to supper eventually. :)

Any more questions? Email me.

Wanna try?

The Longevity Diet by Brian Delaney and Lisa Walford

http://www.calorierestriction.org/

Recipe: Crispy Kale

Image: Nenette's Kale

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

And for my green contribution, here's a great tasty, and very easy, recipe for a guilt-free treat. I first read about this on Mary's blog, and she knows how to make CRON taste good!

Now, something you should know about me is that I love chips... potato, veggie, etc. If it's crispy, salty, and deep-fried, I'll want to eat a ton of it. So, I've been on the hunt for a healthier alternative, and no, the baked stuff I've tried doesn't come close... until I found these! Enjoy!

INGREDIENTS

* kale - preferably the curly kind (yes, that's it... see? easy!)

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350F. Cut kale leaves off of the stiff spine, and spread on a cookie sheet in more or less one layer. A little bit of overlapping won't hurt. Bake until edges are a little dry, for about 10-15 minutes depending on your oven. If yours looks anything like the picture, you're there! Sprinkle on a tiny bit of salt as soon as they come out of the oven, if you want to - I personally like them plain.
Let cool for a little while... or you'll burn your mouths like Roomie and I did.

These babies are seriously crispy and addictive, but no worries, they are super healthy. So, I insist you eat lots!

Poll: What kind of gum do you chew?

Photo: History of a Bubble Gum

As you all know, I'm not a big fan of sugar, but I LOATHE aspartame... and, kick my ass, it's everywhere! I didn't realize this until recently when my 5yo son started chewing gum.

For those of you wondering why I'm encouraging my son's gum habit, he's been cursed with my (and Roomie's) motion sickness genes, the poor little guy, and chewing gum keeps him from throwing up in my car. I'm not really concerned about him soiling the interior of my '91 Tercel. We could tell him to, as my brother-in-law would say, "throw up in your hat - your hat can go into the laundry, my car cannot", but I'd rather not have a 'puke hat' in my car, and I'd just rather him not feel sick at all. Gum has been our solution.

But try to find a sugarless gum not tainted by aspartame! It's been near impossible for us. I've even looked online. Nothing. So, we have resorted to giving him Bubblicious. They're big, so we cut them in half.
Frankly, to me, it's still not an ideal solution.

Hey... you may have one!

So, as my 52 Weeks of Community task for this week, I'm running a poll, and my question is... "What kind of gum do you chew?"

And if you have a good suggestion for a non-aspartame sugar-free gum, please let us know in the comments...

What kind of gum do you chew?
	regular sugar gum
	bubble gum
	sugar-free gum (with aspartame)
	sugar-free gum (with other artificial sweetener)
	I don't care how my gum is sweetened/I don't chew gum
pollcode.com free polls

8 Good Habits in 2 Years

Photo: U1315234INP

February 10 marked the 2nd Anniversary of the day I started CRON.

Yippy!!! Happy Anniversary to Me!!!

These 2 years have just flown by, and I'd be lying if I said that it's been a breeze. In fact, I'm rather ashamed to say that the past 3-5 months have been less CRON than I'd like. But I'll never throw in the towel. This "eat no crap" way of eating (moderate, obesity-avoidance CRON) is too empowering, too intelligent and too body-respecting to give up. And contrary to popular belief, it's really easy too.

The 2 most important lessons I've learned over these 2 years are...

(a) I really am the captain of this vessel, the high priestess of this temple. If things go right, I get the credit. If things go wrong, I'm to blame. Hunger doesn't have to control me; I can ignore it till the next meal. I call the shots.

(b) Experimentation and education are key. I've been my own lab mouse and confidently tried all sorts of weird-ass and not-so-weird-ass stuff on myself in hopes of finding what really works for me. And all of those "good habits" we all know we should adopt, I've actually tried. Here's what I've found...

1. 8-10 glasses of water a day does help keep me full, keep my skin clear, and keep my weight down.

2. I was low in vitamin B, and taking a supplement has resulted in a better reaction to stress and a smaller waistline.

3. I do best with a caloric intake of 1200-1500, which is perfectly normal and healthy. On a slow day, I'm good closer to the lower end, and when I have a tabata workout, I'm hovering around 1500.

4. Kitchen closes 3 hours before bed. For me, this is at about 7pm. Eating late disrupts my sleep and adds an extra pound or two the following morning.

5. Green tea is a satisfying, anti-oxidant-packed drink to have throughout the day. It's a great healthy way to deal with hunger and boost the immune system.

6. No dairy... except the occasional yogurt. I've dropped a couple of pounds, felt more clear-headed, and experience no more sinus problems since doing this. It's been like a miracle for me.

7. Eat more protein... especially in the morning. Starting off with eggs in the morning (thanks, April!) helps with hunger and gives me a kickstart to be healthy throughout the day.

8. Establish an eating schedule of 4-5 meals per day. Knowing when I'll be eating has helped me deal with hunger and kept me from overeating. I eat at 8:30, 11:30, (2pm - optional snack), 3:30pm, and 6:30pm.

Now, if I can just kick the last traces of this cold so I can get back to my workouts, I'll be gold! :)

How about you? What are your favourite healthy habits?

Off to celebrate my anniversary with a cup of green tea...

Recipe: Hawaiian Ambrosia

Hawaiian Ambrosia is a fresh and tasty dish you can have alone for breakfast, as a side for lunch or dinner, or as a healthy dessert.

It's so ridiculously easy to make, you can do it with your eyes closed... which I don't suggest you do unless you're wearing trench coats, a scuba suit, or having a 'naked day'. ;)

This is my own recipe, and I hope you like it. It really tastes like the food of the gods and goddesses!

INGREDIENTS

* 1 - 500ml container plain yogurt (low fat to full fat)
* 3 - 398ml cans of tropical fruit (papaya, pineapple, banana, etc.)
* 2 - 284ml cans of mandarin orange segments
* (optional) dried coconut flakes, or young coconut strands, available at any asian food store

DIRECTIONS

Drain canned fruit well. Add all ingredients together. Mix well, and refrigerate for 1 hour. Serves 6 as a side, less if eaten as a meal.

Detox Day 16-21: Premature Ejection

Today is Day 21, the final day of my detox as designed by the book Joshi's Holistic Detox.

Unfortunately, on Day 16 (Tuesday), I caught the flu and decided to end the detox then. I'm now slowly on the mend, caring for my now-ill family and thoroughly enjoying the Maintenance Phase of Joshi's program.

Two-Week Detox Still Worth It

At the end of two weeks, these were my results:

1. I'd lost 5 pounds and went down 3 inches around my waist. That's pretty good. I lost the majority of it very early on, which was very motivating, and although I did succumb to temptation a couple of times, I didn't gain any weight.
   
2. I experienced the mental clarity, boundless energy and euphoria I enjoyed during my 8-month CRON phase. Feeling that again made me want to feel that all the time.
   
3. I learned once again how easy and satisfying it is to eat healthy. For a quick lunch, I hurriedly microwaved about a cup of frozen mixed veggies (you know, the cubed carrots, cut beans, peas, and corn mix) and threw in a half can of salmon... this became my favourite lunch even on slow days.
   
4. I know how to listen to my body and heed its messages... again. I know when I'm almost full, and I can stop eating when appropriate. I'm not a slave to my appetite.
   
5. I don't crave sweets as much. I still do, but I am easily satisfied with something healthy.

The Fruit Factor

On the whole, I enjoyed this detox, and I found it easy because I already practiced many of its principles. I already avoid wheat, dairy, red meat, and alcohol.

My only problem I had with this program - and it's my biggest obstacle with many strict plans - is the banning of an entire food group - in this case, fruit. Yes, fruit was a no-no during the 21 days... except bananas. Bananas were okay.

Joshi says that doing this forces the body to draw on fatty, toxic cells, instead of on the sugars from fruit, for energy. This, I understand, but boy, was it hard! I didn't like cutting out the vital nutrients easily available in fruit, and dammit, I'm an island girl... I NEED MY FRUIT!!!
When I crave sweets, fruit is usually my healthy alternative. I can't tell you how many bananas I ate during this detox! :)

For this reason alone, I'm really glad I'm in Maintenance!

Moving on to Maintenance

Maintenance on this program is essentially an alkaline-balancing, ayurvedic way of eating, a time-tested and healthful way I've come to respect and enjoy.

The re-introduction of non-acid-forming foods, such as fruits, has been easy and a joy to the tastebuds. You can find charts of alkaline and acidic foods everywhere. There's a good one at this website or in Joshi's book, which, by the way, also includes a great guide for dining out.

As for ayurveda, I fall into the Vata dosha metabolic type... I took the test. :)
The list of vata-balancing foods should further help me feel better and get me healthier. I'm already in the process of CRON-ifying this way of eating, taking calories down to between 1300-1500 which is where I've felt the healthiest.

I hate being a "strict" practitioner of anything... you know, moderation is key, but this is a good guideline. I'll continue to listen to my body, and do what it tells me. If that means I need to make some changes outside of the guidelines, I'll do it. I'll keep you all posted.

Would I recommend this detox? I do, actually. But of course... if you do decide to try it, please see your trusted health care professional before you start.

Detox Day 8: The Lure of Sweets is Tenacious

It's been a week since I started my detox, and here's where I stand...

Pounds Lost: 5
Waist Inches Lost: 2.75

So, not a lot since day 4... I'm feeling really good though, and the initial drop was very motivating.

The palmier I had yesterday definitely did NOT make me feel good. I felt nauseous shortly after I wrote my post, and I was so angry with those things that I was going to devise a very dramatic way of ridding my life of them... freezing them in a snowbank, mashing them all up and feeding them to the birds, even burning them like I did with my high school uniform (which didn't work very well because the skirt was polyester and all it did was melt).
But since the rest of the members of this household aren't doing my detox with me, I can't just punt these treats... although I'm sure my kids would've loved my trebuchet idea and would've gotten a kick out of seeing the palmier package catapulted across the street... even Roomie would've gotten in on the act, drawing up plans and making it with his new drill bits.

Anyway, this week has taught me a few things about how I need to eat to stay healthy...

1 - eat an egg for breakfast
2 - have 4 meals: 8:30am, 11:30am, 3:30pm (I can eat with LA and MN when they have an after-school snack), and 6:30pm, to avoid gak-snacking temptation
3 - don't eat after 7pm

Okay, on to week 2...

Oh, let me have just a little bit of peril?

Cast your knowing gaze upon the peril I must face while on this detox:

Philippine Dried Mango... 6 pieces = 160 calories
Petite Palmiers... 1 piece = 110 calories
Iran-Tabriz Confections... made with honey, nuts, wafer, etc.

See?!!! This is what I'm up against!

Roomie does try to help though, in his own Monty Python-y way...

Sir Galahad (Me): Look, let me go back in there and face the peril.
Sir Lancelot (Roomie): No, it's too perilous.
Sir Galahad (Me): Look, it's my duty as a knight (sugar-addicted human) to sample as much peril as I can.
Sir Lancelot (Roomie): No, we've got to find the Holy Grail (7-11 cups, drill bits, neck warmers, etc...). Come on.
Sir Galahad (Me): Oh, let me have just a little bit of peril?
Sir Lancelot (Roomie): No. It's unhealthy...

Didn't help... I had the palmier on the right.

Detox Day 4: A Notch...

Well, it's a busy day today, so today's post will only be a quick update on the Detox.

Modifications: I've followed the plan nearly to the letter... yes, nearly. I accidentally ate cheese in some leftover frittata, but it hasn't resulted in anything bad. And I decided to eat an egg every breakfast instead of the 3-4 per week because if I don't eat enough protein in the morning, I'll be starving by lunch and tempted to eat gak.

Pounds: 4 pounds lost

Waist: 2.5 inches lost (I had to buckle my belt in a notch!)

Yup, already, and it's only been 3 days! And heavens, do I feel good! Very energetic and clearheaded. Woo hoo!!!

Detox Day 1: Rehab

(... okay, cue Amy Winehouse...)

Today, I'm officially going into detox...here in the comfort of my own home...
After being sick (with an eye infection, laryngitis, and coughing up more lungs than I'm sure I had) since December 27, I finally feel strong enough to face my addiction and deal with it once and for all.

"My name is Nenette, and I'm a sugar-holic."

My sugar addiction is my final frontier. I've easily improved the other aspects of my health - taking my vitamins, drinking my water, cutting out dairy, and increasing my protein intake - but sweets and bad carbs are my Mt. Everest and my Achilles' Heel (... oh, cue Brad Pitt in Troy...).

Like an alcoholic, I can't stop at just one. At Halloween, a taste of candy will lead to a whole box, and at Thanksgiving, a spoonful of garlic-fried rice will lead to a couple of bowls. Before you know it, I'm feeling sluggish, foggy, nauseous, and not quite myself anymore. And the next day, my sinuses are stuffed up, and I've gained weight.
This is what pushed me off the CRON wagon the first time, and I know that, if I don't kick this, with my insulin resistance, I'll never be where I want to be health-wise.

So, I've set my goals, and today, the first day of my detox (and the first day in 2008 where I actually feel human again), I'm moving all of the things that trigger my addictive cravings into a different cupboard, pulling out my copy of Joshi's Holistic Detox and planning my menu for the week. One step at a time. It's a start.

Game Plan

Photo: Eating Wrapping Paper


In my last post, I talked about doing a 21-day Detox. Have I started it? Do I dare eat in such a non-festive way during the Holiday Season? My body *is* a temple...

Pfft, the temple is sacred, not stupid.

I want success, not failure. I'll start in January... meanwhile, I'll just try to eat as healthy as I can.

Last Saturday, I was at my friend Harmzie's house for her annual Christmas Party. I always look forward to this event because I get to see old friends I rarely see the rest of the year and enjoy the great spread. The abundance of good food, like raw veggies, smoked salmon, cheeses, whole grain crackers and fruity, non-alcoholic punch, is always well-balanced by treats, like nanaimo bars, baklava, grannie squares, assorted cookies, and Mr. Harmzie's infamous, delicious egg nog.

That nog is lethal. I'm serious. You can get drunk on the fumes.

Anyway, I enjoyed the healthy food primarily, sampled some of the guacamole, had a couple of coconut-encrusted prawns (I *am* trying to go pescatarian after all, right?), sipped glasses of fruity punch, and taste-tested the nanaimo bars because Harmzie wanted to know if she should make it again next year or buy it ready-made (That's my story and I'm sticking to it).
I think I ate more, but I don't quite remember... it was a bit of a feeding frenzy. Although I tried to stick to the healthy stuff, it was still many more calories than I'd normally consume.

So, for this Saturday's Christmas Party at my friend Sly's house, I have to be more conscious of my eating... and I don't mean gleefully observing every single bite of Sly's delicious cheese cake I shovel into my mouth. I need a game plan...

1) only a sliver of Sly's deliciously evil cheese cake
2) stick to any fruits, salads or veggie stuff
3) keep a glass of water in my hand at all times
4) only eat at 20 minute intervals (okay, sounds crazy, but if I don't do this, I'll just be eating round the clock... Sly makes great food!)
5) focus on people, not food

And that last one is key... With life being so busy, Roomie and I rarely see our friends socially any more. The Holiday Season is really the best time to squeeze in as much happy-face time with our friends as we can. Stuffing that happy-face comes a distant second.

Hired: CRON Sherpa

Photo: Nepal - Sagamartha Trek - 040 - Trail disappearing around corner

I can't CRON freestyle. I tried it, it worked for a while, but I just can't sustain it for the longterm. When stress hits, I cave.
In this respect, I'm not as patient and fearless as April, Deborah, Mary, or countless fellow-CRONies, ready to try new stuff and ready to roll with the punches. Maybe I'm just too lazy... I don't know.

I'm not an explorer. I need a map, or maybe a guide... a CRON sherpa to hold my hand through this occasionally rough terrain, someone clever and dependable, maybe one who looks like Gerard Butler... sorry, digressing...

I've realized that I'm better off taking an existing healthy way of eating and CRONifying it.

When I finally decided this plan of attack, quite serendipitously while watching some celebrity diet show, I saw a bit on Joshi's Holistic Detox, which I bought and have enjoyed reading for a couple of weeks now.

As many of you know, I've been wanting to do a cleanse or detox since the spring, and that's what first drew me to the book. But it's not a one-off thing... it's a 21-day detox that gives you a kick-start toward healthier living. It's a combination of alkaline, ayurvedic, and low-GI systems, really fits with my beliefs in nutrition and clean eating, and is not too big of a departure from my already moderately-good way of eating.
And the tongue analysis was fun and very revealing about my current state of health.

It explicitly says that calories are not being counted, but that's not why I got the book, right? Besides, it's not a problem for an experienced CRONie like me. I'm getting into the groove, enjoying it, and will definitely report my progress.

Anyway, it's probably the best HOW-TO manual for eating I've ever come across. So, I'm very happy. I've found my very own CRON sherpa in a book. :)

Aftermath of "The Big Binge"...

What do a trapeze artist, a puppy, and a bikini-clad teen on a beach during Spring Break have in common? They all, most likely, feel the exact opposite of how I feel right now.

My goodness, I don't think I've ever felt this bloated, sluggish, or heavy-on-my-feet (that's the opposite of "light-on-my-feet", right?) since my last pregnancy 3 years ago.

This fat-and-sugar hangover is the aftermath of 6 days of Halloween candies (yes, again), a diner dinner consisting of a Skinner's smokie dog, onion rings and a hot chocolate (roomie's birthday dinner), a Chocolate Sin birthday cake (one half on roomie's birthday, the other half on mine), and 3 bowls of korma and basmati rice (my birthday dinner). And of course, there's the waffles and cream cheese I had every morning. OMG, did I really eat all that?! Yuck!

With all this gak coming into my body at such a rapid rate and in such a condensed period of time, I was able to observe how badly my body was reacting and how it struggled to deal with the onslaught.

My hands and feet felt swollen

I had heartburn

I felt my heartbeat in my ears

Digestion was not functioning "regularly"

My complexion started to look sallow

My mood was becoming less and less optimistic

Seeing spots and blurrier vision

...and on and on.

Feeling so rotten made me consider several things very seriously...

1: Do people who eat like this on a regular basis feel this crappy? I'd be willing to bet that they do. They just don't know they feel this way. Feeling horrible is normal. They just don't know how good it feels to, well, feel good. Scary.

2: You really have to CARE. Getting and staying healthy requires effort, planning, and tenacity, especially in the beginning, when you're just getting used to this new lifestyle. Then it gets easier. Even setbacks are easy to deal with when you're into the routine, as long as you deal with them right away, and not put them off for months like I did.

3: Sometimes you just have to rip off the bandaid. If you don't force yourself out of this lifestyle, you just won't get out of it. My Big Binge made me feel like doing nothing but sit in front of the tv with a bottle of pop and a bucket of bonbons. Seriously. The start of a vicious cycle. It's an addiction for me (and for probably many people in North America), and it really needs to stop.

4: You need to get to the point where you can walk the talk. "Ready, set... wait!" Some call it procrastination. I call it being ready. Starting prematurely increases your chances of stopping along the way. Plan your attack, do your research, and get help if you need it. Do what prep-work you need to. YOU will be the one to say "Go!".

Action Plan: As for me, I'm done feeling like crap. Truly. Now, I'll be preparing for my Lifestyle Reboot and getting ready to say "Go!". :)

How Halloween Bitch-Slapped My Healthy Lifestyle

Photograph: They're coming to get youoooooooo... by Crystl

Today marks the 1st anniversary of my downward slide into healthy-diet demise. Yes, on Halloween 2006, I fell off the CR wagon for the first time, and it's been very difficult staying consistently on ever since.

How did I let it get so bad?!
From the beginning on February 8, 2006 until that point, I was so good, unwavering. I was a paragon of CRON in all ways, eating only 1500 calories max of good nutritious food each day, walking every afternoon down Corydon Avenue with its hot cafes and friendly people, and bouncing back to healthy habits quickly after binge events like Easter dinners and the kids' birthdays.

But Halloween was different. I really should've known that I was heading into dangerous territory, but no, I'd underestimated the evil sweetness and the destructive forces that were lying-in-wait to strike at the first moment of weakness.

And strike it did... and here's how...

My sweet tooth made me weak. Been the case since I was a little girl. That's why my family called me Candy, and why I named my blog Life Candy.
I can turn down a bag of salty chips or cheezies, but chocolate bars and cake, I just can't resist. It's an addiction not the best for little ol' insulin resistant me.
I was able to kick it last year but like all addictions, just a taste can suck you back in... and of course, you can't just stop at one.

A chain of high-cal events? Try bouncing back after that! One day of hi-cal eating barely registered a blip on my CRON radar... until Halloween. Why?
Well, right after Halloween, my roomie celebrated his birthday. Then 3 days later, my birthday hit. After that, just as I was climbing back onto the wagon, Christmas season started with many parties and their sweets-laden tables. Turkey, honey-glazed ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, chocolate confections, candy cane, Christmas pudding, and of course, egg nog.
Honestly, I had difficulty remember HOW to eat healthy after all that!

"Winter Hibernation" is the only name I have for it. You know, the minute the cold weather hits, we start reaching for the warm, stick-to-your-ribs, rich foods like stews, roasts and cream soups that help us add on that extra layer for winter. Like squirrels. Or bears.
I did just that... about the same time that I stopped going for my walks down Corydon. It was just too cold for this island girl. And I couldn't find a replacement activity that wouldn't incite my little ones to interrupt every 10 seconds.

What's the point? No one's going to see anyway. This was probably the lamest of all of my excuses. When I saw my body changing, I just covered up with sweaters and the ever-sexy parka. Did I look fat? Oh, no, that's just my long underwear! I stopped caring because no one was going to see me anyway. We women stop shaving our legs and getting pedicures for the winter because it's all covered up anyway. This is the same thing. Gah, how vain, eh?!
Health should've been the #1 priority, but it wasn't... Disgusting. I must've been drunk.

Anyway, here I am, a year later, faced with the same challenges. But now, I'm more aware. I'm hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. Maybe this time, good healthy habits will prevail. Wish me luck.

Hello in there... are you still hungry?

Today, I met my friend Myrtle and a very handsome young man for snack/coffee today.

I enjoy meeting up with Myrtle, and ever since this young man came into her life, we try to meet up often. We have similar views, similar approaches to things, and even a similar sense of humour, so we laugh together a lot. She understands me, so I feel comfortable bouncing ideas off her.
At best, I get suggestions that aren't too far out of my comfort zone that I can try out to solve some problem or dilemma.
At worst, I find out that she has the same problem or dilemma, and we both realize that we're both screwed! LOL :)

Case in point, today, as I mentioned, we met up for snack/coffee. Well, snack/coffee ended up being a omelette with salad (me) and sandwich with soup (Myrtle), and we topped both meals off with a cookie and fruit crumble, respectively.

Did we really need to consume all that?
We both agreed that we didn't, but consume we did without concern for "the limit".
I really should've been aware of my limit as I'd read just this morning Sara's post about judging her appetite and satiety signals. Gah! I should've known!

About a year ago, when I was a full-fledged moderate CRONie (for my new readers, that's the practice of reducing calories to only those that are optimally nutritious... basically, healthy eating, or what I like to call, the "stop eating crap" diet), I knew where "the limit" was. I could hear my body's satiety signals. Now, I just can't anymore. I lost the knack, the skill, the sense.

I, like Sara, will have to press the reset button and relearn my lost art.

Unfortunately, I've been really bad (some good days, but over all, just plain bad) these past few months - no, prepping for my high school reunion wasn't an effective motivator - and that means I may have to go through the type of detox I went through early on when I cut out all the sugar, high-GI, and other bad foods from my diet. The headaches, crankiness, aching limbs, and the desire to rip my arm off to hit myself with the wet end... lovely... I'm giddy with anticipation.

Myrtle said that maybe the pain will be enough to keep me on the wagon... Well, it didn't last time... here's hoping this time, it will... :)

Omentum Momentum: A Progress Report

I work hard to protect my temple. I avoid smoke, alcohol, and stress. I limit bad fats, carbs, and sweets... except dark chocolate. (Hey, the temple is sacred, not crazy!)

But as you all know, earlier this year, the temple let down its defenses and all sorts of riffraff came in. I gained 10lbs, my cholesterol shot up, and my omentum ballooned.

"What's an omentum?" you ask... well, at the risk of inciting the wrath of medical professionals worldwide (or at least the 1 or 2 that read my humble blog) with my inaccuracy, I've condensed the technical description to 3 words: belly fat bag. And it hangs in front of the abdomen. The omentum's job is to support the internal organs, supplying blood and fat.

When you're fit and healthy, your omentum is thin allowing you to see the abdominal muscles underneath.
Not sure what that looks like? Go and watch the movie '300'.
Oh, you already know what that looks like? Go and watch '300' anyway. Go on. I'll wait...

Okay, welcome back...
Gerry, David, and the Spartan gang have wafer thin omentums, and they aren't holding it all in... You can't suck in a big omentum.

Now a bad omentum is big and full of fat (think beer belly) and that fat increases your risk of heart disease. So, how big is bad?
According to the doctors who wrote You: On A Diet, women with a waistline larger than 36 inches (measured at the bellybutton) are in the danger zone.

At my worst, I was at 38.5 inches. I looked like I was pregnant again, and I kinda felt like it too. Tired, lethargic, swollen hands and feet... ick. And I was most thankful for the baby-doll trend that well-camouflaged my ample belly in the spring/summer!

Fast forward 6 months later, the temple is back on track and well-fortified. I'm now eating right again and exercising regularly, doing 30 minutes of hula every day with push ups and squats 3 times a week.
And I'm back on the stop-eating-crap diet, not tracking calories, but listening to my body and practicing hara hachi bu, a healthy Okinawan habit which means 'eat only until 80% full'.

Still need more work, but I'm feeling much better now and looking a little better in my hula sarong... the Spartans would be proud :)

Hitting the 'Reset' Button... AGAIN!

Thanks so much for all the great advice and support from all of my CRON siblings! I knew I had to start over, but the strategy eluded me. So, thanks again for that, and the cheering squad (Jake!).

I've decided to set the CR aside and work on ON for a while (Thanks, Sara!), increase my repetoire of delicious dishes, wash all of this gak out of my system, THEN start reducing calories.

Sweets and carbs are my worst addictions, but from experience, I know I can kick the habit if I can stay away from them for at least a couple of weeks.
And I need to increase my protein...

So, I need to plan out my new menu that packs nutrients and variety, but is also easy and quick enough for a mom of two little monkeys.
I was told that the 5-Factor Diet Book is good. Its 5-meals-a-day premise appeals to my snacking tendency. I'll be looking at it. If any of you have read the book, I'd love your input.

Onward...

I was tagged by April so here's my 8 random facts list...

1. I had a pet chicken as a child.
2. I played bass guitar in a new wave garage band named The Contrast.
3. I used to practice the filipino martial arts called Sikaran-Arnis.
4. I have a sensitivity to raw onions.
5. I had 2 honeymoons: Cancun, Mexico and Drumheller, Alberta (my favourite of the two because we went to the dinosaur museum).
6. I proposed to my husband...naked.
7. I played the organ for my church choir.
8. I went to an all-girls' catholic school.

That's me!

Good Thing We Don't Eat Our Young

I'd forgotten how hungry one gets during the early stages of CR! My body is still kicking and screaming at me, "What do you MEAN you're not giving me any more food?! I'm still hungry! I'll pass out! Really! Watch me!" I reply with another cup of green tea and the gentle reassurance "No, you're really not hungry. You're well-fueled. You've been through this before. Once you get used to this, you'll be fine." I don't think I believed me.

Add to that my workout (which I stepped up in intensity thanks to the picture of Gerry Butler that Jake put on his very motivating blog), and I was ravenous! My kids were safe, but the miso soup I made wasn't. I had two bowls.

I think I'll be hanging out at my upper limit of 1500 calories than my lower limit of 1200.

BTW, in my haste, I forgot to put up my stats. Okay, here we go...

height: 5'4"
weight: 119lbs.
under breasts: 29"
waist: 33.5"
hips: 37"
bicep (L): 11.5" (flexed)
thigh (L): 18"

A Good Place To Start

Welcome to my blog!

I'm a hula & tahitian dancer/instructor, CRON-enthusiast, writer, former engineer, sushi & green tea fanatic.
I was born in 1969 (feel free to do the math), originally from the beautiful islands of the Philippines. Just shy of my 4th birthday, my family and I moved to Canada where -- with the exception of a brief stint in Hawaii -- I still live today.

I started CRON on February 8th, 2006, and at 5'4", I try to maintain a weight of 110-115lbs, my weight during my early 20s. I practice a relatively moderate form of CRON, the easiest form for me to practice right now as I cook for 3 non-CRONies.
For exercise, I dance hula and tahitian ote'a for cardio, balance and muscle control. I've been practicing yoga and pilates off and on since 2001... having kids between 2002 and 2004 kinda put a halt to those activities. :)

I've finally gotten off my butt to start blogging about my road to health, wellness, and long life via CRON, natural movement, and proper relaxation/rejuvenation.

That's pretty much it. I hope you enjoy reading about my journey as much as I enjoy writing about it.

Thanks for visiting!