Tag Archives: bipolar disorder

About the Diabetic Diet

Before I was put on the diabetic diet, I was told by some healthcare professionals that it is really the healthiest diet for anyone to be on – even if they aren’t diabetic. Now, I am not a nutritionist, so I can’t say if that is 100% true or not, but I know I have tried a few diets and the diabetic diet is the easiest to stick with as far as I am concerned. What makes the diabetic diet unlike other diets? Well, I for one don’t really get hungry. That is because on the diabetic diet, you eat … Continue reading →

Overcoming Weight Loss Obstacles

The God Factor I don’t know if your are a spiritual person, but as I was sitting in church on Sunday, I absorbed the message put forth by the pastor, “Those doing God’s work will be faced with obstacles. It is guaranteed.” Now, while I am not implying that my personal weight loss is the Lord’s work, although of course I look to Him for direction in all of my life (and He is great at helping one overcome obstacles), the message did get me to start thinking about recent obstacles that I have faced so far. Week Four I’ve … Continue reading →

Diary of an Overweight Hamster

I’ve just completed week three of my journey to weight loss. In some sense, this has been the hardest week yet. The novelty of getting out there and exercising has worn off. The fact that I haven’t seen a dramatic visible difference is discouraging. I’m vowing to go out and get a scale this week, so that I have some sort of bench mark. I may even get up the courage to try on my “cut off the circulation” pants and see if they are more comfortable. I’ve been wrestling with what to call this weight loss diary. I’ve been … Continue reading →

Don’t Speak for Me

I am the parent of an autistic child. Unlike some parents who can attribute the onset of autistic-like behaviors to a certain timeframe or set of events, my son was born as he is. Different. Quirky. And in my mind, perfect. To set the record straight, my experience with autism is not that of parenting a child on the extreme end of the spectrum. I would never presume to understand what families of low-functioning autistics live through on a daily basis, and I do not speak for them. My son has immature language skills, but is completely verbal. He makes … Continue reading →

My Weight Loss Journey

Gulp. Okay. I admit it. I need to loss weight. Three healthy children, a body over 40 years old and genetics that almost guarantee that I will someday be able to knock over small children with the hanging stuff below my arms means that something has to be done. And really, I am the only someone who can do it. For the past two weeks, I have begun embarking on a goal to lose weight and get healthy. I’m almost shy about this goal, but I am getting bolder about it. As my body starts to get stronger, so does … Continue reading →

Researchers Find Autism Genes

In a recent press release from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, it was declared that recent research is showing that autism spectrum disorders may be linked to “Combination of Inherited and New Genetic Mutations Acting Together.” Quoted in the press release: “We are finding that both inherited and new, or de novo, genetic mutations are scattered throughout the genome and we suspect that differentcombinations of these variations contribute to autism susceptibility,” saidco-author Maja Bucan, Ph.D., professor of Genetics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and Chair of the Steering committee for Autism Speaks’ Autism Genetic Resource Exchange (AGRE).” … Continue reading →

How to Eat Out and Stay Fit

It’s not rocket science. As long as you stay away from super fatty foods, avoid gorging on high-calorie selections, and stick to your daily exercise routine, you should be able to treat yourself to a night out every once in a while. To make it even easier to stay fit while dining out Health Magazine recently put some popular chain restaurants to the test. The eateries were scored on the use of healthy fats and preparations, availability of nutrition information, and the use of organic produce. Here are the results: Panera Bread. The bakery/cafe has an impressive menu of healthy … Continue reading →

Chelation and Autism

Most parents of young children with autism are constantly looking for answers, reasons and solutions for their child’s autism. A controversial treatment for autism is chelation therapy. Chelating agents are administered to children to remove any mercury in the blood, mercury that many parents believe is the cause or at least a contributing factor to autism. The thought is that removing the mercury from the child will improve the autistic symptoms. While there are no proven studies for this treatment, many parents seek it out anyway, figuring that it won’t hurt to try. But in fact, I believe that it … Continue reading →

Vaccines Not the Cause of Autism, Rules the Court

There is a lot of debate out there whether or not to vaccinate children. Some folks are big believers in vaccines (such as myself), while others fear them and a possible link to autism. Whichever side of the issue you are on, you’ll want to make note of this news. A special court ruled yesterday that there is no reason to blame shots on children’s autism, siting years of scientific evidence that showed no increase risk of autism from receiving vaccination. The special court, made up of special masters that serve on the U.S. Court of Claims, received evidence from … Continue reading →

Celebrity Moms’ Unique Ways to Get Fit and Inspire Kids

Supermodel Cindy Crawford doesn’t want her daughter to fall into society’s trap of being super skinny, so she employs a simple tactic to encourage 7-year-old Kaia to snack: She goes out of her way to eat ice cream and potato chips in front of her. Does anyone else see the humor in this? Grimaces aside, Crawford is serious about keeping her kids fit and encouraging them to establish healthy body images. The 42-year-old mom recently told reporters that she is determined to keep her daughter from sacrificing her health for her figure, so she goes out of her way to … Continue reading →