Happy New Year, Ya'll!

Ok, ok. So I've been watching too much Paula Deen on TV over the holidays.

Just thought I'd pop in with a New Year's update. Not a lot new on the homefront these days other than the shiny new calendars on the walls. Don't you love new calendars? My faves are the ones with babies on them, or puppies.

The weight loss/low carb thing is going slowly. Having read the Diet Cure by Julia Ross just before Christmas, I'm concentrating on healing my metabolism these days far more than trying to lose at any cost. I'm eating a few more carbs than I was. 30-50 a day average. Dr. Broda Barnes the great thyroid researcher and doctor recommended higher carbs for his hypothyroid/Hashimoto's patients, so that's what I'm doing. I'm actually eating more than I did the past year.

A couple months ago, I discovered that my beloved coffee was making my GERD worse! I gave up coffee and voila, hardly any reflux or heartburn issues since the second day. If you have GERD, you may want to consider giving up coffee. I've discovered the joys of a nice cup of Vanilla Chai tea in the morning, with a bit of heavy cream and stevia.

For many of us, New Year's means New Year's Resolutions. My only New Year's Resolution is not to have any resolutions :-) I decided to begin changing my life and health for the better 2 years ago after a brush with cancer. I'm still on that same path: seeking wellness in whatever ways I can and trying to reverse the damage all my years of uneducated eating have wreaked on my poor body.

For those following the Kimkins debacle, here is an excellent year-end wrap up that bears repeating:
2008: A Kimkins Year in Review
As always, great job, Cleo!

One very interesting diet-related topic I want to share. Did you hear about the lady doctor in Fla. who gave her Alzheimer's husband MCT oil which began immediately correcting his cognitive deficits?

My husband was beginning to show some alarming signs of forgetfulness this fall and winter. Putting his clothing away in the hallway coat closet, losing keys nearly every day, misplacing his wallet, etc. Having trouble remembering dates and plans we had just talked about a day or so ago. So I bought him some MCT oil and he has been using it daily since Mid December. It really has made a difference!

I've been using regular virgin coconut oil myself for going on 2 years now for many reasons. But this was the first time I'd heard of the medium chain triglycerides actually helping to diminish signs of dementia or Alzheimer's. I hope the medical community will pay close attention to this new evidence. Alzheimer's is a horrid disease. We know firsthand: my mother in law died from it 2 years ago.

Hopefully I'll be back soon crowing about my new low weight on the scale. But for now, I'm eating healthfully and trying hard to be patient.