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Kiki: Posted on April-18-11 8:42 PM
 Why, why, why? Why did I just step on the scale? Why did my head just say that maybe I should lose a few pounds because my jeans are feeling a little tight? Why does that young, insecure, unknowledgeable girl come back to haunt me, even for a brief moment? Thankfully the strong and intelligent woman that I’ve become recognizes this and is able to chase her away instantly. It’s taken me many years of recovery to understand how to be “healthy” and lead a balanced lifestyle. And to think, I thought because I was skinny (skeletal really) that I was healthy….That couldn’t be farther from the truth!! Why am I thinking about this today? Wendy of ISFP sparked a discussion on her facebook page about people cutting their calories to 500 to lose weight. It angered me to the point of tears. People just want a quick fix and they want to lose it fast. I really don’t believe that those people think long term or are interested in learning the healthy way to do it. They don’t care!! If you’re one of those people, you may be tempted to make drastic changes in your diet to reduce the number of calories you consume. But what you may not know is that eating too few calories can actually sabotage your weight-loss efforts. Please don’t do this!! It would make sense to stop eating when you are trying to lose weight, but it actually works in the opposite way.The most effective way to lose weight is to consume fewer calories than you expend, creating a calorie deficit. But if your calorie intake dips too low your body could go into starvation mode. Your body will start to store fat because it thinks it’s not going to get any food. When your body goes into starvation mode, your metabolism slows down tremendously, burning calories as slowly as possible to conserve its energy stores. This is why people who cut their calories too much may reach a plateau and stop losing weight. When you cut your calories so low that your metabolism slows and you stop losing weight, you probably will become frustrated or depressed. This can lead you to emotional overeating and ultimately gain weight. Please make smart choices. Concentrate on eating healthy, getting active and being strong...Haven't you heard?....Strong is the new Skinny!!! |
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Kiki: Posted on March-10-11 4:48 PM
After leaving my Naturopaths office I am supposed to feel like my situation is not hopeless, that I will eventually be able to lead a somewhat normal life when it comes to food. I guess I feel optimistic to some degree but I also feel this wave of sadness and despair come over me. I sat down with a complete stranger for over an hour and confessed all of my eating habits, past and present and feel this overwhelming guilt come flooding over me. Am I being punished for those 11 years of starving myself? Now that I desperately want to eat and be healthy the universe is turning its back on me. I suppose I'm feeling panicked because I am suddenly back to those days of restrictions that I lived many years ago but this time it’s not my choice. Dealing with chronic IBS and Celiac Disease has got me keeping away from many foods such as gluten, dairy, meat, raw vegetables, alcohol and caffeine to name a few. I hate restrictions!! I hate feeling powerless!! These things are not good for recovering anorexics. I am terrified that I may slip back into my old ways because (in my case) anorexic tendencies always seem to be there. I never act on them but my mind does 'try' to talk me into starving myself when I've gained a few pounds. Believe me, that voice is very loud and very convincing. For me, it's this simple. I am stronger than the disease and do not want to go down that destructive road again. I know that many people with anorexia simply do not care about poor nutrition or health. I know I certainly didn't. I focused on skinny, skinnier...I'd tell myself "just one more pound and I'm done, I promise." When anorexic, I didn't take multivitamins or calcium supplements. I never thought about the long term effects nor did anyone tell me that I would have osteoarthritis in my jaw by the time I was 25 from all those years of pulling on it when vomiting. No, it's not a pretty picture and it breaks my heart to think that I didn't care whether I lived or died!! Obviously I was able to overcome that deranged way of living (if you can call it that!) and see with clarity now. For many years I've been trying to mend the damage of over a decade of malnutrition has had on my body, only to have to start all over again. I know this for certain. I have gone through hell once before and have kept on going. This time things will be different. I want to live!! "You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection." ~Buddha
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Kiki: Posted on February-24-11 7:59 PM
We’ve heard it since childhood: You are what you eat, but there really is a lot of truth in that statement. After all, food fuels the body and the type of food we eat affects our body’s metabolism, digestive processes and overall health and well-being. Toxic food = toxic energy and emotions. You in fact attract what you put out into this world. If you’re going through some type of turmoil it’s important to make healthy food choices. Think about your eating patterns. Do you eat when you're anxious, frustrated, bored, angry, sad, or lonely? Sometimes, the foods chosen during these times are high in fat, salt, sugar, and calories. Often, people soothe themselves with food, rarely is it a plate of veggies and hummus! If you’re feeling down take a look at the types of foods that you’ve been consuming. Ask yourself this, why is it you crave or turn to ‘bad’ foods when you are feeling this way? Have you ever noticed how sluggish and heavy you feel after eating fried or fatty foods? Your body is definitely telling you something. “This is wrong. This is unhealthy and not good for my body.” What are you expecting to happen after that proverbial slice of chocolate cake? We learn to associate food with love and nurturing. Since childhood we may have received a special treat to make us feel better when we were hurt or sick or even as a reward for good behaviour. As adults, we may be continuing to reward ourselves, raise our spirits, or search for love and acceptance through food. It is not surprising that so many people confuse hunger for food with their hunger for emotional happiness. After all, food is friendship. Food is love. Food is soothing. Food is unconditional. Food is… only a temporary solution. Since we are not aware of the connection with food and our feelings, we often eat unconsciously. The results of good or bad nutritional choices are not immediate. If we overeat, or eat too much fried or fatty foods, we might feel guilty, but we usually don’t see dramatic physical changes the next week. This lack of immediate “cause-and-effect results” makes it hard for us to appreciate that good nutritional choices really do make a difference in our health in the long run as we age. |
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Kiki: Posted on January-22-11 3:24 PM
“Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they're supposed to help you discover who you are.” I’ve had a rough go at it for a while now with many different diagnosis. First, Crohn’s Disease, then it was Celiac Disease but no Crohn’s. Thirdly, it was both Crohn’s and Celiac disease which now brings me to the most recent diagnosis. Celiac Disease and IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) I’m exhausted!! After learning to cope over and over again for many years, I am once again wearing that hat. Living with a chronic health condition presents many challenges. Learning how to meet those challenges is a process — it doesn't happen right away. I can contest to that! But understanding more about your condition, and doing your part to manage it, can help you deal with the challenge and make it easier. Many people find that taking an active part in the care of a chronic health condition can help them feel stronger and better equipped to deal with lots of life's ups and downs. Attitude is everything!! Most people go through stages in learning to cope with a chronic illness. Someone who has just been diagnosed with a health condition might feel many things. Some people feel confused, and worried about their health, the future and how their life will change. For others, the situation seems unfair, causing them to feel sad, angry at themselves and those they love. I’ve felt every one of those at different times. These feelings are all part of the coping and healing process. Everyone's reaction is different, but they're all entirely normal. I’ve said this before, knowledge is power. The more you find out about your condition, the more you will feel in control and the less scary it is. Learning to live with a chronic illness is all about accepting. Accepting the things you cannot change and living your life to the fullest. Develop a plan with your Doctor and take action to get yourself feeling better-NOW. However that may be, antidepressants, diet modifications, stress management. It all depends on what illness it is that you have. |
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Kiki: Posted on January-14-11 1:28 PM
“Be Impeccable With Your Word. Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.” ~Don Miguel Ruiz I surround myself with positive things, literally. I gaze around my house to find words; dream, enjoy, believe, friends. Everywhere I look brings me happiness and a feeling of serenity. People ask me, “What’s with the quotes all the time?” It’s simple, I've always been this way. I feel as though they are my mantras. They keep me positive, grounded and focused on what I want out of life and the type of person I want to be. I had to make a drastic lifestyle change (Celiac and Crohn's Disease) over the past few years and it hasn't always been easy or smooth sailing. Sure, there are times when I feel sorry for myself and just as a child reaches for a blanket or a teddy bear I reach for my quotes . Wise people before us at the beginning of time said these remarkable things that pertain to my life NOW. I find comfort in that. Words are powerful. They can love, hate, scold, soothe or praise. They can impact self-esteem, lift us higher or make us believe that we can't accomplish something. When you speak to yourself or another you have the power to choose your words. Are you deciding to come from a place of love and encouragement by building yourself up or from a place of bitterness, criticism and judgment?…..only YOU have the choice!! I challenge you (and myself) to try being kind to yourself and others by not using negative or defeating words. Can you be successful for an hour, day, week? I believe that there is truth in the expression “Fake it til you make it.” |
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Kiki: Posted on January-02-11 1:32 PM
With days shorter and the sun setting at 4:30, winter is in full swing. Are you feeling depressed, have a lack of energy, increased need for sleep, a craving for sweets or noticed some weight gain? You may have the winter blues!! Symptoms begin in the fall, peak in the winter and usually resolve in the spring. The absence of natural sunlight can affect people in many ways. It can interfere with your body’s natural sleep patterns and alter your moods making you not want to participate in the things you enjoy doing throughout the other seasons. I noticed that the second I got off the plane in Mexico the hot sun and blue skies made me smile, energetic and happy. I tasted every individual flavour, so fresh and distinct. Lime, cilantro and avocado was a staple on my plate daily. I hadn’t felt so relaxed and ‘well’ for a very long time. Now I’m home, (*sigh*) the guacamole isn’t as mouth-watering and the warmth on my face has disappeared. The next morning I hid under the covers not wanting to face the world. How things can change in 12 hours! So what should I do to get myself through the second half of winter? Have you thought about it? We do have at least 3 months to go. Instead of fighting against the winter season, listen to your body, your natural energy level and allow it to guide you. Discover something new about yourself and what you love about this time of year. Try snowshoeing, ice skating or just sip on apple cider beside a warm fire…..Variety is the spice of life, embrace it!! |
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Kiki: Posted on December-15-10 8:00 AM
I’m not interested in convincing people to live a completely gluten-free life unless they have celiac disease, but the health benefits of cutting out processed and fatty foods are remarkable. Because the gluten-free diet dictates that you stay away from many pre-packaged, fatty and fried foods, it has become popular in Hollywood and with the media as a fad diet. With the gluten-free diet ‘fad’ it can jeopardize the seriousness of celiac disease. Since people without the disease don’t show ill-effects when they ingest gluten, some restaurants don’t take the diet as seriously as they should or take the necessary precautions when it comes to preparing food. I get so frustrated to the point of tears when eating out….Please restaurants, educate your staff. I can have rice!! This alone makes me question the credibility of your gluten free lists. People with celiac disease are as sensitive to gluten as people with a peanut allergy are to peanuts but consuming gluten is not immediately life-threatening. The best way to stay true to the gluten-free diet is to eat fresh fruits, vegetables and unprocessed meats. By preparing your own meals from scratch you have the ability to read labels and know that it’s 100% accurate. But if you do have to eat out please be your own advocate. If the restaurant doesn’t have a list of gluten free menu items stick with something safe, grilled plain chicken, steamed veggies or a salad with oil and lemon. It’s time to stop feeling powerless!! “When you do nothing, you feel overwhelmed and powerless. But when you get involved, you feel the sense of hope and accomplishment that comes from knowing you are working to make things better.” |
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Kiki: Posted on December-12-10 1:33 PM
I just want to be like everyone else, only problem is I can’t be. Socially, these diseases, Celiac and Crohn’s debilitate me. It’s especially difficult when everyone else is enjoying a cocktail or two. Sure, there are gluten free options but my body can no longer take any amount of alcohol. A half of a glass of wine restricts me to the couch for a few days. You would think I would remember this for the next gathering. No such luck. Am I still in denial? Do I think that all of a sudden things will be different?  I know that it may seem hard to understand that I could easily accept not being able to eat many foods but the social pint of beer or even that glass of red wine after a stressful day is much more devastating to me! So, since I am a slow learner the next time you see me please remind me to drink water instead!! “The fear that you feel deep inside is what makes you believe things are not possible or that you will fail.” |
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Kiki: Posted on December-07-10 5:39 PM
Beyond pain is acceptance and beyond that is recovery. Here’s what I struggled with for a long time after my diagnosis. I have two options. It may seem clear but your logical perspective isn’t always there when faced with a life altering situation. I can focus all my energy on denying, ignoring and wishing it weren’t so OR I can accept my situation and turn it into a positive to help others because really it’s not going away. The sooner I can move beyond the frustration and feeling sorry for myself the more enriched my life will be. I knew this. I knew that pity is not positive and it doesn’t help anyone because it doesn't change the facts. But some days I found myself paralyzed not wanting to go out with friends or go to restaraunts like I once loved. What I’ve come to learn after many inner conversations with myself is that it’s ok to have those dark days because I came out of it stronger and more positive and more confident in what my journey needs to be……If I hadn’t had some of those dark days it would have never brought me to Kiki’s Kitchen!!!! "I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can." |
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