Another beginning

Long time no post. Long time with little change in information. Long time eating not as healthy as I know I should be. That's a pretty good recap of where I'm at today.

I signed up to take the Family Herbalist class from Dr. Christopher's School of Natural Healing. It has been a joy -- and a stress because I'm accountable for passing a test -- but a joy for the things which I'm learning. (See Sept. 14, 2009 post, "For the Love of Raspberries" by Zea.)

I've been plagued in my thoughts about my eating for about a month. It feels like it's time again to go forward. I think I'm a bit concerned that I know I'm missing something and I don't know how to do what I feel I want to do. And then I wonder if I will really be able to be strong enough to do it. I've tried ever so many times; however, each time I seem to get a little stronger.

I just feel I do not know how to do this. In my limited understanding, and yet I feel I understand it better than most, I'm not doing it. I'm juicing and eating sprouts -- and what a difference it does make. I think some of my hair is even returning to my original color from the gray I now have. It's the other times that bother me. If my body is indeed a temple of God, why am I not feeding it as such all the time? Why am I feeding it the poisons of the world? Why am I feeding it dead food? Why am I not strong enough to be master of myself in what I put into my body?

I did the Addiction Recover Program that the LDS Church has about a year ago. I thought I was at a point of self control in my eating. I learned soooooooo much and I have progressed tremendously, but I can see I'm not yet there.

The thing that the Addiction Recovery Program taught me the most is that I cannot do it by myself. I've tried all these years -- and have not succeeded. My reflections the past few days have drawn me back to that knowing. My heart and mind are humble and I know what I need to do. I have a renewed desire, a stronger desire.

This time is a bit different. It's not so much about the weight, but it is about the health and well-being of the physical body. I know I've got (not liked to be talked about) sludge. I will be doing what I can to help rid my body of that. But along with removing that, which will allow my body to absorb the wonderful nutrients in God's created foods, I've got to learn how to prepare those foods for eating -- so they do not lose any of their 'wholeness".

I still know "wheat for man" is a part of this. I'm anxious to use the little bit of new knowledge I have gained from the learning of others. And I yet hope to receive the further light and knowledge I'm seeking -- making eating wheat delectable -- in the Lord's ways.

And so the journey continues.

I'm going to do some reporting -- challenges, frustrations, joys and successes. I've set a timetable of 90 days and as of tomorrow, February 1, 2010, I'm going to begin mastering "me". Some sort of exercise six days a week is a part of the plan, along with using the Lord in my temptations, and eating now as I will be doing in one week after a 3-day cleanse. It is said we eat 1/3 less when we eat whole foods and feel wonderful and have much more energy. Now who wouldn't want that?! And along the way we'll see how this is working and in 90 days we'll see where I've arrived. Well, I guess this has now made me accountable. This could be a good thing -- I hope!! I don't like falling on my face in front of others. (lol)

So -- once again ------- Onward and Upward!

Basak

Tomato power

Probably the wrong title but......

Made a recipe today that said to remove the seeds from the tomato. I had to wonder if I've ever had a recipe that had you do that or if when it did I just ignored it because it was too much work. Then I wondered how they "officially" do that so checked it out on the net. I was appalled as I saw them take out the heart - those membranes.

Since reading Greensmoothie Girl's blog about eating whole foods - including the skins, I have always known what she expressed was true. Today, I thought about that place of the fruit that is holding the power of reproducing.

So --- I did as the recipe instructed, but I put the seeds and the pulp in a bowl of their own. After I finished my recipe, I needed to juice some vegetables and just ran what was in the bowl through. About the only thing that came through was the seeds. And what a powerful drink was made -- with probably some of the richest nutrient power the tomato had.

I'm in awe at the things that are coming forth. They've really never been gone -- just man has forgotten, including me. In the olden days, people just picked the fruit or vegetable and ate it. Today, we have to do so much to them before we eat them -- add flavor, take things out, put things in, etc., etc., etc. But also in our day, we are going back to the ways of health and wholeness and I'm excited these things are being brought to my attention and becoming more of my family's way of life - although we have been very basic as compared to most of the world! But now --- we are REALLY getting basic and it's AWESOME!!!! Bring on the power!!!

Basak

In Praise of Beans

Once again I've had the opportunity to be in teaching mode and once again I've learned the most.

About a year and a half ago, the Provident Living site changed the food storage calculator to only calculate grains and legumes. My reasoning was because they, as it says on the site, "can sustain life" or "be used to stay live." This time around, it was instilled in my soul that: "The Lord will always guide and protect His people if they will obey. The site was changed because He inspired someone to do it, of course and the change will provide us with strength, health and protection of our bodies." I then had a thought question wondering if these two things were the best things we could be eating even now -- just just for survival. I love the witness of the Holy Ghost!

As I prepared spiritually and also made numerous dishes for the class and as we at home gave those dishes a trial run, it was very interesting what happened to my family as we ate them.
We got full and there was no glimpse of a desire to snack later. When it was time for the next meal, we found we were sometimes still not very hungry. In this household, that's a big deal. I feed them a good meal and an hour later, they are snacking.

I really don't know why I have not fed my family more legumes/beans. I guess one reason is because of their worst rap of being gassy. I shared my theory that if we get gassy, it is a very good indication that there is a problem in our bodies and the beans are working at those problems. As I've eaten beans, I find that problem ceases to exist when the fiber gets to do its job rather than being so far behind. We all know many diseases happen because of colon issues.

When one considers that each legume/bean has it's own special nutrient, we should be eating a variety. When one considers the Lord says, "Nevertheless, wheat for man", and then we are encouraged to also eat legumes, and then plants in season, could our health be exceptionally increased? I now know, if we literally do these things, it can.

Now many will probably rip me saying I should study the food combining, etc., etc., etc., and I have and know of these things and do have several books but I have to admit, I have not done them. I will now be a bit more aware of how often I serve grains and beans, together or alone. I do not feel we need to always combine. Yes, there is the knowledge about the amino acids being complete, but I do know it does not have to be every time.

As I was prompted to share another insight about the deceit of men, "In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you and forewarn you,...", I also know these words were said for us today. The greater degree we eat God's food as compared to the world's food, the greater our protection and what greater foods than those which God created with a powerful outside covering.

My favorite is about as simple as one can get. I get a can of beans, put a few in a bowl and warm them and add some salsa and I'm good. Simple seems to be the taste I like the best and simple is the Lord's ways.

I really wish I had a picture of the serving table. It was delightful with over 25 different dishes, soups, salads, desserts and snacks. And what is even more delightful, we were all in awe that it was all made with beans.

And so, onward and upward with another adjustment in what I feed my family. My eating grains regularly will also now include a more concerted effort to include beans and legumes regularly. It's a new world of finding new recipes and letting inspiration complete that gap.

I'm so glad I was asked to teach this class. I'm excited.

Basak

For the Love of Raspberries

I'm always telling people "you need a rasberry patch!" Not only for the berries, which are sooooo yummy and good for you, but also for the leaves. I always knew they were good for you, but just recently I've learned how valuable they really are.

In my beginning herb course from Dr. Christophers School of natural healing we learned some great things about the red raspberry leaves made into tea. From the Agricultural Research Services: Phytochemical & Ethnobotanical Databases I have a list of all the nutrients that are found in the leaf itself. They are: Alpha-Carotene, Alpha-Tocopherol, Ascorbic Acid, Boron, Calcium, Chromium, Manganese, Niacin, Pectin, Phosphorus, Potassium, Riboflavin, Fiber, Iron, Magnesium, Malic Acid, Selenium, Silica, Thiamin, and Zinc. There are many things the red raspberry leaf is good for, but one thing that I want to share is something that is from Dr. Christopher and I have tried it and put it to the test. When there are flu's or colds going around if you, and your kids will drink at least three cups of tea a day, they will more than likely not get sick. If my kids are starting to act like they are coming down with something, this is one of the things I do for them. I've seen it work. Not just with my kids, but also myself. So, go plant a raspberry patch and after you've made jam and preserved all the raspberries you can harvest the leaves!

Zea

XAGAVE

I'm hooked on Xagave. It's a great sugar substitute, low glycemic, and it really does taste good. The guy who formulated it uses the nectar from two agave plants, and that is the reason for the X. When I first learned about agave several years ago I decided I couldn't afford it, and I was just going to use less sugar. Two kids later and realizing how much sugar we really were eating I've decided we can't afford not to replace the sugar in our diet. My family's health is worth the extra price.
We've replaced maple syrup with xagave. To make it I just add about a tsp of maple flavoring to the 36 oz squeeze bottle of agave. Now when my kids are pouring the "syrup" and inch thick on their pancakes, waffles, french toast, and yes even fried eggs I just smile. I used to limit the syrup and in fact I'd stopped buying it because of the high fructose corn syrup and other ingredients that made it so unhealthy.
So, this morning while I was eating my oatmeal that had xagave in it, I decided I ought to post about it. Go to http://www.xagave.com/ and read all about the benefits- fewer calories and low glycemic - just to name a couple.

Zea

Pico de gallo green smoothie

We make a pico de gallo sauce that is really good. You use Roma tomatoes, cilantro, white onion, jalapenos, cucumber and lime juice - cube everything and put juice of a lime or two on it. Oh, and add salt to taste. It never turns out the same for us because the vegetables are more potent at times or we use a bit more of one thing, etc. Guess one of these days we should come up with a recipe but it's kind of fun to have it be a bit different and just enjoy it. It is absolutely yummy with chips or however you want to use it.

We made a batch and it ended up being a BIG batch and it was a little hotter than usual. We have a 5-year old that just could not eat enough of it. That got me wondering if it had something in it that his body needed and how my body would react to all that wonderful blend in a larger amount. I was also wondering how we were going to eat all of it so....

In my creative thinking, I took some spinach and then put a few spoonfuls in, added the juice of 2 more limes and about a cup of water and blended away. WOW!!! I think I'll name it "Pico de gallo Green Smoothie Jolt". It is really good and I believe anyone who enjoys the Mexican flavors would also enjoy it.

I think I needed to add a few wheat sprouts. You wouldn't have even known they were in there, just like in all the other smoothies. I wonder why I didn't do that? Live and learn!

Basak

I have a new theory about drinking water

I keep learning of more and more people who take a supplement of HCI (hydrocloric acid) to help with their stomach acids.

Water content in God's created foods is high as compared to most of the foods we eat. So when Adam and Eve ate, there was quite a bit of liquid that went into their stomachs and maybe just helped slosh the food around and helped mix up the gastric acids in the digestion process.

At breakfast, I thought about what the people in the world eat today and how the stomach would look after - dry, dry, dry!! It's trying to make the gastric acids but it would be just this big blob of chewed food (and sometimes not so chewed). So the parts of the stomach that make these things would be squished, crowded -- unable to perform their tasks as they should. And what little they did make could not be mixed in sufficiently.

I was doing laundry while eating and the analogy came that it would be a bit the same if I put just the soap into the washer with the clothes but no water. I have an energy efficient one that doesn't need much water but surely does a good job so in the analogy the water in the stomach would not have to be lots.

And then what the world teaches about not drinking water with our meals came to mind.

Could it be we need the liquid when we eat? The world teaches us that we need to be drinking LOTS of water. Maybe more of that needs to be with what we eat. The world sometimes teaches that we should drink 1/2 hour before a meal to help curb hunger but even that would be processed before we loaded that ole stomach up.

Years ago I always drank with my meals and I was fit and trim. Of course I was younger, too; but when I adopted the world's thinking of not drinking with meals, things were different.

MMMMMMMmmmmmmmmm

I'm going to be drinking more water with my meals! And just so you know, to me the other things the world has us drink with our meals would not be the same.

Basak

New author on blog

We've got a new author on our blog. Her wheat name is Zea.

She's into so many of the natural's and healthy's. We're excited to have her join us!!!!!!! We should have an introduction soon.

Basak

Carrot juice

We are so taught by the world and sometimes we are so brainwashed that we cannot see truth. I know I've mentioned carrot juice before but this really struck me. This woman was so sick she could only take carrot juice by the teaspoon full and she only had it three times a day for about a week then she gradually increased her intake of juice to 8 ounces every 24 hours. Finally she was taking one gallon a day. She had no other food for 18 months. She was well and healthy and lived to be quite old.

So why are we taught that we need to eat so much? Why are we taught that we need so many different foods? Why are we taught it just is not good to do without food for a day? Why are we taught that we need all these specialty foods? Why are we fed this man-made food and not God's food? Why do we always have to have a substitute for something that is not good for us?

I think our "healthy" society gives us the answers to those questions!

I used to juice and have again begun. My first glass of the juice made my whole body buzz. It was neat. I felt like every cell in my body was jumping up and down. I'm not worried about doing it every day. Some days we'll do a smoothie and some days some juice. It feels so good to be incorporating what I know to be truth.

I continue to eat wheat -- bread, sprouts, smoothies, cereal, granola, casseroles, etc. Our grocery shopping has drastically changed. It's good and has also helped with the budget.

I was told just today that I surely didn't look my age. I smiled and so did every cell in my body!

Basak

Self talk, not feeling well, and feel like I'm in kindergarten

There are so many self-help books these days on how we program ourselves by what we say to ourselves. I've decided I'm going to use some new self talk. When that time comes that I say, "Oh, I'm full", I'm also going to say, "Let me know when we're again truly hungry." I'm hoping this will help me get the "when" of "needing" to eat and get past my own habits.

This whole thing isn't very easy for me. I guess I'm just a nibbler, snacker, food addict -- whatever you want to call it. But I still know when I eat to "full", the nibbling and snacking just aren't in the picture.

I haven't felt the best the past couple of days. Been using some essential oils and when they do their thing, the body does indeed process. And ..... what has that done to my appetite? I've not gotten hungry until a few hours after regular eating time. One day, I ate because I just knew I should be hungry and of course I knew my body needed food!! Yah right!!! Not only did I not feel good but I then felt bloated and yukky in other ways -- like I do when I over eat! Well dah!!! However, when I did good, the hunger did eventually come. And full came quicker and with less food. Interesting - but yet I know I already knew it would be like that.

All learning lessons but I truly KNOW our bodies talk to us and tell us what is best --- if we will but just listen! And I feel like I'm in kindergarten!!!

Basak

Is "full" based on quantity of what the body can handle?

Interesting discovery -----

The other day I ate pizza (the order out kind) --- and "full" came faster than I expected. Had to analyze that. I believe the body knew it would have a harder time processing what was being ingested. So- would the nature of the body have "full" come faster? Ironically, it took a bit longer to reach "hungry" -- so in essence, does the body take longer to process food made with many man-made ingredients along with all their preservatives and thus, longer to again feel a true "hungry"?

So when we eat before "hungry" arrives, is the body not yet finished processing. When we add more food, an analogy could be like we are causing a flood. Dams begin to form, body parts cannot contain it all so causes inflammation (which is a major cause of illness), and also causes leakages and hemorrhages inside the body.

Oh my -- what a disservice I've done to my body for many years. Another analogy --- When I fill my car up with gas, it can only hold so much. I make a choice to fill it with the good, better or best for it. Why would I not want to do the same with my body? We had a Camero and have to admit it made me want to be naughty. We took good care of it and only put into it what was best for it. We wanted optimum performance. I think I'm becoming stronger in my determination to truly treat my body like a temple and use the correct fuel to produce the energy it needs. Why would we want to do differently? Of course, it's because of all the "wonderful and tasty" of the world. But ya know -- all that "wonderful and tasty" surely does not make me feel good and it doesn't make a lot of other people feel good either.

A rather long explanation of another experience with "full". Oh well......

Basak

Fasting and prayer and "full"

The scriptures are filled with the words "fasting" and "prayer". When I ended my fast, I wondered if "full" would be different in that I would not consume as much food. Sure enough, I was right. Interesting!

Basak

About 95 percent there!!!!

Funny how things work and I love it!!!!

Right in my daily scripture reading, I came to that wonderful section in the Doctrine and Covenants on the Word of Wisdom. I had the thought that I was going to try and read it and just let it happen. Usually I try to force the things I desire to understand. And here is the Lord's word on just that so really wanted to just "hear" what was going to be said to me.

The reading was amazing! I realized how truly SIMPLE it is! I thought about my Dad. He always grew a garden and I remember him just eating the fruits and veges for lunch, along with the homemade bread my mother always baked and many again for dinner and how healthy he was for most of his life; and the same with my mother. I thought about the "season thereof". I thought about our seasons as compared to other places in the world. I thought about how fun it is to partake of those fresh apricots, cherries, peaches and apples and all the other yummies in their season of harvest. And I love tomato sandwiches. I thought about when it's hot and not really feeling like eating much. And then I thought about grains -- how they store because of those outer shells and how they are what would be used during those times when the gardens are not. Of course, all of you probably already know the simpleness of it all but I enjoyed my waa laa! I also totally understood why the Lord said what he said about flesh of beasts -- again, so simple.

So knowing that the grains would serve us well all year (and this went to awhile back when I said I wondered if we just weren't eating enough), and having been proving this all of my life it seems because I remembered that I ate whole wheat cereal almost every morning as a child and feel I really do eat my grains (but I believe it has not been in the quantities needed for my body because I fill it up with other things instead), I again asked "why wheat for man?"

I just felt that this little kernel of wheat has the most in it of what man's body needs. I use wheat in ever so many ways but am now going to make a closer study of how to eat it, when to eat it and with what, and how much and when. Seems complicated but it's just experiment, eat and pay attention and listen. It's just around the corner if I will zero in and put the knowledge I have to use to answer these questions.

The "seasons" of growing are upon us. What a wonderful time to put things to the test -- the hungry and full, the eating of wheat, the bounties of fruits, veges and herbs. It's going to be a wonderful summer of enjoying God's created food and receiving my answer!

Basak

The weirdest thing (for me anyway)

As I try and "feel" this full thing, I've found I'll be eating and I'll feel this something (and it's been the same thing) and wonder, "is that it?" I think about it and know I'm not full. So I continue eating and then all of a sudden, there it is and found myself saying earlier today, "Oh, there it is!" and I know I do truly recognize it. I wonder if the first feeling is the 80 percent full -- which some say is the place we should really stop. More keying into the tune of the body and learning is coming. I can just "feel" it!!! LOL It surely is still weird and amazing to me that I'm just NOT even hungry in between meals when I get "full". This is so unlike me ---- and the way I've been eating for so long.

Basak

Very interesting -- this hungry and full thing - many surprises

First off -- know that this is just my sorting through all this. I guess, really, the whole blog is kind of like that but this is specifically to the hungry and full thing.

As I've been doing this, I've noticed a couple of things.

1. At the evening meal, when I get to "full", I do not have a desire to eat and munch the rest of the night. It's been this way for three nights and I had no reaction feelings. One night I even watched a couple hours of TV. This is my most prone time to eat so this is very surprising to me. And for the record, I had to add more food than I originally dished up at meals to obtain "full". This also surprised me.

2. When I "snack" in between, which I just did this morning -- my body reacted with feelings of bloating and prickly insides. This caused an "mmmmmmm????"

3. I remembered that at breakfast, I did not zero in on the "full" feeling. I really do not believe I reached that point. Maybe that's one reason for the feeling of "wanting" at snack time.

I had one more thought....... Many people do not make enough hydrochloric acid (a stomach acid) to facilitate proper digestion. Do our bodies need a certain amount of time, depending on what we eat, to process it all and then to make new acid to be ready for the next meal?

When I ate three meals - waiting until "hungry" and ending with "full", my body just seemed ready and there were no reactions with anything I ate. And I've had reactions from some of those things before. When I had a snack today, had my body not processed everything? Did it not have enough stomach acids to do the job? So was reacting the result? I feel there is truth in this.

We really do spend a lot of time feeding our bodies a little here and a little there between a lot here and a lot there. The body probably does not ever have time to get to that point of "I'm ready".

It's been a fun three days and I'm sure the learning will continue. By the way, the weight lessened and maintained during those three days by a pound. Considering what I was eating, that, too, was surprising!!!

It's all just amazing!!!!!

Basak

The other book was...... and .......having an open mind

It is so refreshing to know others are doing so many neat things. I like her style, her wit, her thrift, her wisdom and her testimony.

She also has a website.
"I Dare You To Eat It" by Liesa Card

Makes eating wheat, and other longer-stored items, very doable for ever so many. It's worth checking out!!!!

I'm thankful for friends! I was turned onto this by such a one in the preparedness world.

I'm also thankful for the open mind the Lord has given me. It hasn't always been that way. Seven years ago, I was very content -- living the empty nest life and enjoying serving. You've lived quite awhile so kind of thinking there's not much else to learn and enjoy and endure. My son asked me to read a book. I pooh-poohed him and he continued to pester me. I finally thought that if this is really THIS important to him, that I'd just read it. When I finished, I realized I loved it and what it taught me! I remember thinking, "Why would I not want to continue to learn? Why would I close the door to such wonderful information the Lord still desired to give me?" It was a major milestone in my "older" life and I'm really enjoying and lovin' all the learning!!!

Basak

Time spent thinking and pondering always leads to more learning.

There is just something wonderful about thinking and pondering. You ask a question and all these things run through your mind. At times, it's really profound and an instant answer. At other times, it leads to other things needed before you can obtain that answer.

And this is the road I've been on the past few weeks.

I told you about reading "In Defense of Food" by Michael Pollen. I have to admit that I thought about it for several days. He basically tells us that we need to let go of all what the world teaches and eat. Yes, we need to eat whole, healthy foods but let go of the eating this food for this nutrient and that food for that nutrient. It really opened me up -- made me free, sort of speak. I was so hung up on trying to get all the nutrients the world is telling me I need and where they are and some I can't even get unless I go clear across the continent......well, I think you can see what I mean. I'm so thankful I read that book.

After digesting it, I was led to two other books.

Years ago I remember hearing about/reading about a group of Christian ladies that were having a huge success at losing weight by being accountable to Jesus. I've been thinking about that a lot so decided to take a look on the internet. I ordered the book, "The Eden Diet", by Rita M. Hancock, M.D. and so enjoyed it. It was such an affirmation of "In Defense of Food". And it was insight to Gwenith's question: "How did Adam and Eve eat in the Garden of Eden?"

And, I've also posted about satiation. Well, she addressed that in a big way - recognizing "hunger" and "full" and I realized I have neither.

So -- I've gone to the table to learn. Have to admit, it's been kind of fun. I did finally experience "full" once and I'm still working on identifying true hunger - rather than bored, stressed, waiting, frustrated, etc., etc., etc.!!!! This is going to take more than a couple of days!

When I spend the time thinking, it seems I'm always led to more understanding and answers. I love that part. It always requires work but amazing how it all fits.

I'm wondering if someone already knows the answer to what I seek. Oh, I know the Lord does, but when that answer comes about why wheat for man, is it going to come from something someone else will have already addressed? It really doesn't matter. My journey has been awesome and continues to be.

I do know this little reading spurt has brought me closer to my answer -- in fact closer than I thought it would. I don't know how - other than it might be really a matter of my gaining my own self-control and then the Lord will give me the blessings that go with that.

Anyway --- Onward and Upward!

Basak

I can't believe I really did this.

I knew I needed to make bread today. Last night I had some sauerkraut and as I was putting the left-overs away, I wondered what I would do with them. I had the thought to put them in the bread. Now I know I would not think such a thought. It had to come from somewhere else.

I remembered this morning, and that's unusual, so I did it!!! And as long as I was doing "it", I also blended some wheat sprouts with it that needed to be used - probably about 1/3 cup. I added 1 cup water with it so it would blend and then added the remaining amount when it was called for. Amazing that when the dough got all mixed, there was only a very slight hint of the smell of sauerkraut. When it was baked, there was no smell of it and the bread turned out great!

What does all this mean? I have no idea! But I guess this is one way to get those fermented enzymes in there.

Here's the original bread recipe - no sauerkraut (tee hee)

Whole Wheat Bread (takes about an hour and makes 2 - 8x4 loaves)
3 c whole wheat flour
1/3 c gluten flour, sifted
1 1/4 T. instant yeast
2 1/2 c very warm tap water
1 T salt
1/3 c oil
1/3 c honey or 1/2 c sugar
1 1/4 T bottled lemon juice
2 cups whole wheat flour

Mix together first three ingredients in mixer with a dough hook. Add water all at once and mix for 1 minute. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes. Add salt, oil, honey or sugar and lemon juice and beat for 1 minute. Add last flour 1 cup at a time, beating between each cup. Beat for about 6-10 minutes until dough pulls away from sides of the bowl. This makes a very soft dough.
Preheat oven for 1 minute to lukewarm and turn off. Turn dough onto oiled counter top; divide, shape into loaves, place in oiled bread pans. Let rise in warm oven for 10-15 minutes until dough reaches top of pan. Do not remove bread from oven, turn oven to 350 degrees F and bake for 30 minutes. Remove from pans and cook on racks.

Basak

Feast or famine

As you can see by all the posts today, my posting is like my eating -- feast or famine!!! LOL Not good for the body and probably not good for those reading. I'll try to be better -- on both counts!

Basak

Satiation

I didn't even know this word existed until just a few years ago. I kind of like it. Satiate - to satisfy (as a need or desire) or no more desire. I relate this word to "full".

I've been working on identifying my "full" when eating. I don't know if I even know what that little feeling my body would give me feels like. I watch my grandchildren eat and they surely do recognize it -- even when eating a dessert. And I don't know if I really know what real hunger pains feel like anymore. Most of mine seem to be in the head, not in the belly.

So for now, I eat until I feel no more desire. It seems to be working for me. I think I just need to try harder to learn to identify that "full" sensation. I remember an article I read years ago that asked if we'd ever noticed that those people who looked like their weight was where it should be, when eating out, were the ones that left something on their plate. They knew they were full but didn't feel they had to eat it all. I liked that article and have often desired to know I was full but surely haven't done my part to recognize it.

Eating more wheat has kind of helped with that, though. It's amazing that it really doesn't take a lot to feel satiated. When I get there, I do not want anymore. I also know when I have bread for a meal I usually have two slices and I sometimes do not feel full and will have another slice and then feel completely satisfied. I guess I am progressing in this area.

Our bodies really do know what they need and how much they need. Just as in the world we need to be good listeners, we need to be good listeners to our bodies.

Basak