So, we've been talking about avoiding self-sabotage--which basically means recognizing those moments where opportunity knocks, yet we shut down. When self-sabotage occurs, we often don't know it. Part of the reason why is because we unwittingly gravitate toward people and situations that will hurt us in order to play out psychological patterns from our past.

Self-sabotage is connected to multiple mental health issues and can literally prevent forward momentum if not addressed properly. Lack of momentum means social vulnerability, including poverty and abuse. And we are working toward empowerment, not weakness here. While my fondest hope is that my words offer a long-term solution for defeating what is a life-long problem, I would be remiss if I did not also encourage those of you dealing with the consequences of self-sabotage to seek professional support, along with reading about real-life solutions from a real person who has endured similar struggles.

One of the coping strategies for defeating self-sabotage is getting physically healthy. I truly believed I was healthy at the start of the year, biking 10-15 miles a day, eating organic food, being vegetarian, lifting weights...but boy, was I wrong! I just finished 54 days of cutting out dairy, all processed foods (including alcohol), salt, and sugar. In that time, while maintaining my daily work outs, I've lost 15 lbs!!! That's 15lbs I did not know I had to lose, mind you. My body was beautiful with the apparently 15-extra pounds that I did not know dairy was adding to my daily diet. Still...15lbs?! And, I'm not exactly super-thin after losing what is essentially an entire pant-size either.

Mind. Blown.

Dairy is touted as a weight-loss food though campaigns like, "Milk...it does a body good." Ads where celebrities have painted on "milk" mustaches were everywhere at one point. Greek yogurt is loaded with protein. So is whole milk--which is also considered beneficial for fertility. HOWEVER, most of us use dairy as a way to add flavor, not nutritional value. I never realized how much I relied on dairy for flavor. A little cheese here. A pat of butter there. No big deal, right? 

Wrong.

All I was adding was unnecessary fat. The proof is in the weight loss from the last 7.5 weeks. Numbers don't lie--people do. My picture isn't lying either. It was taken a week ago. The last time I lost this much weight, I had to use high intensity cardio for 3-4 hours a day, every day, to drop pounds while on tour with Comic Con; a big-wig in the touring company suggested I might want to "tighten up" and maybe, go a little blonder, too. But because my diet was already so limited as an organic vegetarian, I never even considered making any food changes and would simply tell myself, "This is just how you're built."

A total lie. 

We lie to ourselves all the time. Especially when it comes to food. That's part of self-sabotage. We want to "treat" ourselves, but it's more "trick" than "treat"--food is a relatively cheap, easy way to indulge. But, why do we feel the need to indulge? What's behind the craving or compulsion??? It's almost always a psychological disconnect. Being mindful is the best way to prevent self-sabotage but it's not always as easy as we might think.

Going out to eat on a date is a pretty standard love-ritual around the world. About a year ago, I started going on regular "dates" that had nothing to do with food, and everything to do with moving my body. Sunset walks, lifting at the gym, hiking--these are all my preferred ways to spend quality time with a person I love...or even like, as the case may be. Sometime in the fall, before it got too cold, I suggested to my "date" that we walk our way to a local creamery and get some frozen yogurt. My partner-in-crime smiled big and said, "Yeah, I could crush a shake right about now, but, you've been working so hard...do you really want to do that?"

I really didn't. What I wanted was a change of scenery. We'd walked the same area for weeks at that point and I was bored, not hungry. We do that to ourselves often--eat our feelings. Use food as a way to cope with boredom, depression, grief, etc.. What I failed to see myself in that moment wasn't just about that moment--it applied to how I was living my every day life, too. I was bored. So I used cooking to distract myself. Made me feel like I had a purpose when, otherwise, I didn't. 

Ouch.

Hurts to see something about yourself you didn't expect to see. How many of you do something similar? Use food to cover up a disconnect in your lives???

Being honest with ourselves is hard. Perhaps the hardest thing we have to learn as human beings. While there will always be someone willing to stand in your way in life, more often than not, we tend to stand in our own way. That means that, outside of social disadvantages, we are responsible for our own failures. Our own lack of momentum.

No more!

No more excuses. No more fear. This week marks the halfway point of 2018. We have been making good progress so far. Remember the daily affirmations from the March 2018 essay, #Faith? The first affirmation is, "Excuses and justifications remove my power to make positive change." The second is, "When I have an idea, I will act on it immediately." It's time to act. Not tomorrow or the next day, but today and every single day thereafter. Success is cumulative and incremental. You can and will be successful at everything you do in life if you are consistent. And, patient. With yourself more than anything or anyone else.

Forget "cheat" days--you're only cheating on yourself. A plant-based diet doesn't mean running out and buying almond milk pudding and ice cream, or loading up on gluten-free, organic snacks. It means eating whole fruits and veggies. It means eating protein-rich grains like quinoa and fiber-rich beans and legumes, like lentils and chick peas. It means if you want something sweet, have a little raw honey. It means using raw oats to add crunch (and, healthy fiber that a Tufts study has recently proven can shave 100 calories a day from your diet!). And, guess what? By doing all that, you're actually supporting farmers--real people who sacrifice more than most of us will ever know in order to feed the world. That's an amazing gift. You're also saving yourself SO MUCH money, not to mention time, energy and resources by simply living an ethical life. Increasing our sense of integrity always makes us feel more worthy of good things, good people, good jobs. And, I want that for all of you, my dearest readers. I want you to feel better. Look better. Be healthier, inside and out.

Since cutting dairy, my average cost per meal is about $2.65--no joke. That's with the extra $$$ from buying pricey organic foods, too. A bag of dried lentils can make nearly 20 meals, as can a bag of quinoa. A bag of organic carrots yields the same thing. My biggest splurge is on things like natural peanut butter--I can make it myself, but buying it helps me to manage my time more efficiently. That said, food prep is a key-component to making you healthier and wealthier--grabbing a tupperware container of perfectly portioned pre-made whole foods from your fridge is faster, tastier and much less costly than using the drive-thru window at Panera.

Eating eggs is something vegetarians do, but vegans don't. I was vegetarian for 24 years before dropping dairy. But I never ate fish or eggs as a vegetarian because I was vegetarian for ethical reasons. Eggs also add a ton of fat and cholesterol to your diet. When you have non-fatty protein options, using eggs sparingly for something like quick breads is the healthiest alternative. It's also the most ethical, too.

Always felt that choosing to live a life that honors all life was the reason I'm still alive today. And now, I can prove it:

A transnational study released two years ago in the journal, Aging, showed how restricting our calories by removing sources of fat, sugar, salt, and carbs, and sticking to a mostly plant-based diet, is the fountain of youth. Your body is less sensitive. Swelling is greatly reduced. Allergies are reduced. Colds and flus are reduced. With a balanced diet and exercise routine, there were no major health problems at all and people continued to get leaner, stronger and younger looking. Super-heroic scientists from Tufts University, Duke University, Washington University, University of Vermont, Yale University, Baylor College of Medicine, and Brescia University School of Medicine in Italy all collaborated to prove how calorie restriction can help the body heal itself. 

Wow. No wonder I had to dig through years of misinformation to find those results. If more people knew about this, the beef industry, mall restaurants and food franchises would be out of business! That's not something any corporation wants, even if it means saving human lives. If that weren't true, big tobacco would be a thing of the past. Guess some folks don't mind earning (and spending) dollars made off of human suffering. Misery really does love "company." But this blog is free. I don't get paid to write it by anyone either. Because, I want you to help yourself, not some greedy, rich pig who wants you to die, but not before filling corporate coffers with your hard-earned cash. 

Yuck! Why do I suddenly feel like I need to take a shower???

Time magazine (along with every other reputable news source around the globe) published a story yesterday, May 26, 2018, on the World Cancer Research Fund's (WCRF) long-term study results that, in fact, back up every word I've written here. Those words are also words I've personally lived by for nearly a quarter of a century. Yeah, I know how to commit. And, be loyal. Back up my promises with effective action. As a result of that hardcore bend to my personality, I've survived high-grade brain cancer...for 27-freakin-years!

It's pretty intense. Marvel should SO give me my own superhero character in X-Men....

True, I'm just one person. Maybe I am a mutant? Or, maybe it's luck. Except, it isn't. Because ALL of the most reputable universities and researchers in the world are FINALLY catching up to what my head and heart told me was the right thing to do--not to beat cancer or lose weight or get healthy--but because it was simply the right thing to do. 

Processed meats of all varieties--which is all meat unless you kill it yourself--cause cancer, particularly colorectal cancer. WCRF recommends eating NO MEAT in order to cut your risk of getting any cancer at all by 40%. Drinking alcohol and things like fruit juice and soda will literally kill you, according to WCRF. No less than 7 cancers were connected to alcohol alone. Gives a new kick to your favorite cocktail, doesn't it??? Thanks, but no thanks!

Want to live longer, stronger and leaner?

WCRF suggests people restrict calories, fat, sugar, and salt, eating a mostly plant-based diet of whole foods while staying active in order to improve both quality and quantity of life. I'm living proof that these recently reported findings are the real deal. While it's true that I had brain cancer, and brain cancer is not caused by food (it's primarily caused by toxic environmental factors such as the production of plastics but also, extended exposure to electro-magnetic fields), I have used food as a kind of preventative medicine. There are cancer-clusters all over the States that involve things like brain cancer, lymphoma and leukemia connected to toxins in our environment. Stress is also a factor in almost any cancer, or rather, elevated levels of cortisol in the body for extended periods of time (it releases three compounds that help cancer spread and grow, according to study results published in 2006 from Nature). But, once something like brain cancer starts, though food isn't a cure, changing what you eat may well prevent recurrence in much the same way avoiding certain foods can prevent getting cancer in the first place. If diagnosed with any cancer, you still have to receive recommended treatments, but it also matters what you put in your body. Or rather, what you don't.

While food may not mean a total cure, I'm more convinced than ever that it is the very reason I am still alive today, living five times longer than my last prognosis. In fact, I am one of the longest living survivors of high grade brain cancer alive in the States today. Wish that accomplishment came with a million-dollar check. Sadly, survival comes at a social cost similar to the cost of aging--no one wants to hire you because you are seen as a liability when it is the total opposite--you have proven yourself tougher and stronger than most. You are an asset to this world. Anyone who has had to fight just for the privelege of breathing generally has more gratitude than attitude. A total team-player both eager and grateful to participate in life.  And yet, ageism, sexism, racism all still exist. Self-sabotage isn't just an individual psychology--it's social, too.This is part of why I'm so passionate about helping people around the world embrace unconditional love of the self. What starts with one individual can bloom and grow into a veritable garden of love, kindness and compassion for one another...because, like it or not, we're all in this together.

Can you see the connection? Can you see how self-sabotage stems from negatives like fear, which in turn breeds greed, gluttony, jealousy, envy, prompting us to behave in ways that are totally unethical??? We are literally hurting ourselves. Eating our sins. Drinking our failures. When we do that, we hurt each other, too. It's a vicious cycle that we can stop IF we want to.

A family member I saw earlier this month was under the impression that certain cancers just happen, like magic. That is blatantly false. NO CANCER JUST HAPPENS. There is always a reason why a healthy body stops being healthy. Puritanical musings about how only good people have good things happen is part of self-sabotage. Always someone else's fault, right? I was 18 when the first signs of a brain tumor surfaced. I did not drink, smoke or take drugs. I was not a "slut." I didn't even eat much food and was actually underweight as a kid. BUT, I did spend 10+ years living in subsidized housing as a child and right behind my bedroom wall, there was a large, standing electrical box that had so much going on, you could literally hear it humming. I'd play on it and around it, climbing all over it, because it was warm and vibrated and I felt a little like I was in a space ship or driving a car. My bed was against the exterior wall shared by the electrical box in question. That meant my head was merely one rather thin, uninsulated subsidized-housing-wall away from all kinds of badness. For ten years. It typically takes about 7-8 years for the kind of malignant tumor I had to grow large enough to be detected. And, oh, gee whiz, I was 18 when the first signs emerged. Once again, math tells the truth humans don't even like to think about, let alone utter aloud.

So, no more blaming the victims. And, no more shifting of responsibility. A bad thing happened to me. However it started, it became my responsibility to deal with it. It's the same for each of you. Doctors mean well when prescribing certain treatments, but rarely will you hear a doc tell you to stop eating x, y, or z to prevent things like cancer. Hopefully in the future, bad-for-you-foods will be seen by the medical community in the same way as cigarettes--something that is 100% acknowledged to cause cancer, among other problems. Smoking cigarettes (or any addictive behavior) is a major sign of a mental health issue. It's classic self-sabotage. And, in 2018, we're working toward better health and healing. So, no more smoking. No more drinking. No more using food as a shield. And, move that body! Eat a plant-based diet of mainly whole foods. Because, you are worth it. You really are.

Don't you want to beat cancer, too? Don't you want to see the things you will miss if you don't change how you live your life??? I can tell you from personal experience that, yes, you do want to live longer, stronger and leaner. Your life is worth more than that donut you're planning on eating in the morning. Or, the muffin you usually have in the break room before lunch. Or, gawds help me, the giant cheeseburger with bacon you covet for lunch or dinner. You may not want to give up certain foods or turn off the television and go to the gym, but perhaps you will if you stop long enough to consider WHY you don't want to do things for yourself that will help you stay healthy--inside and out.

Love yourself. Unconditionally. You will be happier, healthier and wealthier. Anyone who says different is not your friend. And, there's only one thing to say to a person trying to hurt your chances of success in life:

#EatMe

Girl can cook! Yes, all those delightful edibles in the picture gallery below are mine. My recipes. My cooking. And, my photography. It's a feast for the eyes AND the stomach, too. A delicious one, at that! Whenever I make a big ol' bunch of food, I always make enough for friends and neighbors, putting together little care packages. Especially one particular 83-year old lady who will sometimes accompany me to the movies, or a live band concert, or join me for a meal. Having a person to share a meal with is a gift in and of itself, but knowing you have enough food for an actual meal is equally miraculous. Sadly, humans take food for granted in the same way so many of us ignore other "small" miracles--like breathing, for example. 

No matter what we like or dislike about food, the one thing we can ALL agree on is that every single one of us needs to eat. Thanks to farmers like my friend Roy in Washington State, we can do just that. Yet, hunger is still a major problem around the world. And while there are lots of places in the States for people to go get food, like food pantries and soup kitchens, as well as government subsidy programs, like Food Stamps--there's still a large part of our population who are unable to take advantage of such opportunities. Both our youngest populations and our wisest populations face obstacles when it comes to getting food, often going hungry. It's unfathomable to me that there are hungry children in this world, let alone hungry grandparents. I lived with my grandmother--and gained 15lbs when I did--because all she thought about was whether or not I was eating well. When my nephews come over, my kitchen table is literally covered from one end to the other with food. "Boys need to eat to grow," is my common refrain. Given that my son is now a lean, mean 6'5", I think I might have been on to something there.

As a society, we have a lot of disconnects when it comes to food. Movies like The Devil Wears Prada call a woman's size-six "fat" (by the way, a woman who wears a size-six has a 26-inch waist-diameter; the national average is a size-14, or a 33-inch waist). On the opposite end of the spectrum, television shows like, "My 600-lb Life," use people who are morbidly-obese to entertain the masses. Doesn't that seem *a tad* exploitative??? Some of the richest American corporations got rich by using food scientists to create recipes that had just the right amounts of sugar and salt to turn off the hormone that tells us we've had enough in order for us to keep eating--buying more of their products in the process. One day, those same corporations will be scrutinized like Big Tobacco for using exploitative marketing on vulnerable populations--making people sick and shortening lifespans just to turn a profit. Talk about "fat"....

When the LA Times interviewed me on the future of food, I spoke about how protein farms (and not the kind with cows) were a likely future source of cheap, environmentally-friendly protein for humanity. If that seems "gross" to you, imagine what an alien visiting our planet might think of a person eating a lobster--boiling it alive, tearing off its shell, and eating its poop derived from all the other fish poop that a bottom-feeder like a lobster eats. Yeah, it's not a pretty picture. But we don't think of it like that as a society because we've been conditioned to accept the practice of eating lobster. Perhaps in 25-50 years, chefs will find a way to make grubs and crickets look and taste appetizing, too? Meanwhile, in 2018, we still have people going hungry.

Those protein farms can't get here fast enough....

In Atlanta, there are thousands of homeless children. Places like the Children's Restoration Network help, but we still have a lot of tiny tummies that go empty day after day. Sitting here right now, talking about food, I realized that I haven't eaten yet myself. If I weren't so distracted by my writing, I might've noticed the weakness in my left arm, the low grade headache radiating across my forehead, and that vague floaty-feeling of light-headedness. It's true, the last time I ate was a good ten hours ago, but there are people who haven't eaten in 24 or more hours. If I feel like this after only ten, how must someone who gets to eat once a day or less feel??? How can a child develop properly? How can anyone think properly? Move properly? And, how can we have some of the most advanced technologies in the world, yet still have human beings who go hungry day after day???

I was recently contacted by the National Council on Aging in Washington DC. I'd written an essay called "Breaking Bread" some years ago and the people in our nation's capital asked me to include their link. The website talks about the senior members of our society and their struggle to not go hungry. Surprise was my first reaction to the idea that any sweet grandmother or grandfather had no one to help feed them. Programs like Meals on Wheels can help seniors get at least one square meal a day--IF those seniors have people who can help them sign up for the program. Yes, help. It's not as easy as going on the internet and signing up if you have no internet, no computer and possibly, no phone. We have to remember that our most experienced members of our society (and so, our most valuable) are not always able to get up, walk, cook, shop, bake, let alone afford to. 

In our rush to live our lives, fall in and out of love, deal with our childhoods, look for new jobs, pay our mortgages, and take care of our own families and friends, we may forget about the most vulnerable yet most valuable members of our population. Children are our future. Kids need stable homes, educations, clothing, shelter, and food to grow into adults who can provide those same things for not only the next generation, but the one that came before. And, though some may be tempted to think of our senior members as "the past," in fact, we are learning more everyday about how health and longevity are positively effected by both food and movement. You can't move if you don't eat. If you eat well, you move well. If you move well, the only way anyone will know you're "old" is if you tell them your birth date.

Fueling our bodies fuels our minds. I recently spoke to a beautiful lady who was 98-years young. She stood tall and straight and walked with confidence. Meanwhile, I'm more than 50 years her junior and I hunch my shoulders, have terrible balance and walk with a limp. When I asked her what her secret was, she told me she ate lots of fruits and veggies and whole grains, and walked everywhere she could. I eat lots of fruits and veggies and whole grains, too, but as a writer, I sit WAY too long and WAY too often. I'm a gym-person, lifting weights since I was 17, and love hiking and biking as well. But my lack of movement (and perhaps love of Southern cooking) is hard on my body. Sedentary lifestyles shorten not only our telomeres, but our lifespans, too.  When I walk more, I stand taller. My balance improves. Most don't notice my limp but I "feel" it so it bothers me. But when it's nice weather and I can go hiking every day, I barely think about it. Know why? It's not there anymore. Simply moving more is the great healer, but we can't move well if we don't also eat well. 

Everything is connected in this wide-world of ours. We often compartmentalize because it makes our hectic life a little easier. Less daunting. But amidst our 21st century angst, we really need to take the time to EAT well while helping others do the same. I'm including some websites below for more information. I also recommend you go through your pantry at least once a month and donate the food items that you know won't get used...the ones that you'll find a year later pushed behind everything else. Instead of eventually throwing away that food, why not put a box of it together and take it to your local food pantry? If you don't have a local food pantry, start one! Make sure you check in with local senior centers, nursing homes and homeless shelters while you're at it. See if you can deliver food to people in need. If we each take responsibility for our own little corners of the world, we'll be well on our way to making our planet not only a better place, but better-fed, too. 

We can do this!

YOU can do this.... 

#FoodPorn


Facts about hunger and aging:
​www.ncoa.org/news/resources-for-reporters/get-the-facts/senior-hunger-facts/

How to find your local food bank: 
www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank/

Find out more about Children's Restoration Network:
​www.childrn.org/

Isn't it just delicious??? Valentine's Day is a holiday absolutely covered in chocolate--though I'd prefer whipped cream. Maybe some flavored lube, too.

​Better put the kids to bed, because things are about to get rated "M" for "Mature," and I'm not talking about water-boarding in GTA....

Valentine's Day is the one day each year that celebrates couplehood. Holding hands, sunset strolls, red roses, romantic dinners, heart-shaped boxes of chocolates...frankly, it's enough to make anyone puke. Especially if you're single. Luckily, dating sites abound in the 21st century--so even if you find yourself single this season, there's hope! 

Did you know there are dating sites that match people based on religion, pet-peeves, beard-preference...heck, there's even a site specifically for women who want to date men with a seven-inch *ahem* (or bigger...)???

Yeah, it's for real. And, thank the tech-gawds for that! Along with other convenient apps that make meeting people of like-minds (and bodies) a reality. Well, at least, a virtual one.

There's no shame in using a dating site to find your soul-mate. Maybe you don't feel comfortable asking that cute guy and/or girl at the gym out on a date. Perhaps the club scene isn't your scene. Bar-hopping is fun, but it's a grind. Coffee houses are great as a first meeting place, but not as a place to meet people--unless you're into soccer moms. That's why sites like Tinder, Grindr, OKCupid, and Match.com exist. But of all the dating sites and all the many gimmicks they offer, not one helps a prospective couple get cooking in the kitchen...until now.

"Man In Kitchen" is an app that is so new, you likely won't see it until next Valentine's Day. While the app will be tested in the Los Angeles area to start, the creators have plans to spread the love all over the States, and eventually, around the world. 

What makes "Man In Kitchen" different?

If you've used a dating site before, you know that it's really about posting as many *hawt* pics as possible. Then, the messages come pouring in. In my research, I found that a few good pics can render an average of 10-12 messages from prospective dates per hour. Hey, when it comes to attracting a potential mate, there's no reason not to show off whatever assets you may have. Tease. Titillate. Let imaginations run wild. And, while you'll get plenty of dates if you follow my advice, you may not be getting what you really want: 

A relationship.

Sure, it's fun to swipe right and find a boy-toy (or five...). But, what happens on days like today--Valentine's Day? You just want to snuggle up on the couch, binge watch Kimmy Schmidt, and have someone who will not be leaving after sex pay for the Thai take-out. Instead, you find yourself paying for your own take-out after your vibrator runs out of batteries (again!) while blocking yet another number from another dating-dead-end.

​Ugh.

My idea of an awesome first date is to take a bath together. No sex. Just two naked strangers in a tub full of bubbles. However, the wet-and-wild approach to dating may not exactly work for everyone. The one thing we can all agree on? Eating. Sure, you can meet at the local Mexican place and talk over tacos...but it's SO MUCH more fun to make those same tacos together. Then, of course, you can eat them. Maybe each other, too.

​Hey, there's nothing wrong with hoping people get lucky when it comes to love....

The "Man In Kitchen" app is for people of all ages and all sexual preferences. There will even be a section for couples, as well as those who just want to make friends. No matter who you are or what you want, "Man In Kitchen" promises that--not only will you be well fed on your first date--you'll actually get to know the person you're with, too. 

Food is sensual and cooking is sensuous. Think 9 1/2 Weeks with Kim Basinger and Mickey Rourke. Whether you have a passion for cooking or not, there's no better way to break the ice than turning on your oven and getting hot in the kitchen. You can learn a lot about a person by the way they handle themselves around food. Vegetarian, carnivore or kosher..."Man In Kitchen" has you covered. And, the best part??? It's totally free!

Like many dating sites, there will be incentives from "Man In Kitchen" for users to "boost" their profiles on the site. But it sounds like the incentives will be purchasable items that will actually make you and your life better. More "date-able." That's right...Charlie Sheen won't be the only one with #TigerBlood. Who's #Winning now???

That'd be you...thanks to "Man In Kitchen."

In case you were wondering (because I did), "Man In Kitchen" has both a female and a male creator. Headquartered in Los Angeles, this dynamic duo hopes to launch the Beta-app in 2018. The reason behind "Man In Kitchen" is pretty reasonable--especially if you've tried online dating in the 21st century:

"There's a need for a social platform that addresses (the problem of) gender equality...we believe (we) will motivate and inspire people to do better for one another and themselves--in the dating world, and in society in general."

You heard it hear first, folks! ManInKitchenApp.com is coming to a mobile device, tablet, or computer screen near you. So, if you find yourself hungry (or hangry) for love this Valentine's Day, don't despair! Help is just a beta-test away. Next year, you could be cooking with the guy or gal of your dreams in the kitchen of your dreams while talking about your hopes and your dreams. Now, isn't that better than a cheap box of chocolate-covered blueberries from Dollar General???

I think so, too.

Happy V-day to all the happy couples out there, as well as all the "singletons" who hope to be half of a happy couple in the not-so-distant future. Keep your eyes on the prize--not the size--people!

Now, go buy some condoms and, for fuck's sake, get laid....

#Yum

-Follow @ManInKitchenApp on Twitter for updates (and recipes!) in 2018!

New Orleans...is  there anywhere better? It's a rhetorical question. Because, "Nawlins" is absolutely the most unique city in the United States. The culture, the people, the music, the architecture...and, oh my, the food!!!. I was lucky enough to visit the-city-with-a-soul during New Orleans' 300th birthday bash, but the trip wasn't just about helping the city blow out her candles.

New Orleans has always felt like home to me. Other cities have made me feel at home--no question--like my beloved Hotlanta. Just being in Atlanta gives me such a charge of positive energy (and it's not just the excess of sugar in the sweet tea!). Home of Hip-Hop, the Dirty South is probably the place where I have spent the happiest moments of my life. But Nawlins...she just keeps finding ways of bringing me back again and again and again, and, oh yes, again.

Anyone else need a cigarette???

Walking the streets of "Vieux Carre," literally, "Old Square" in French, is as familiar as the back of my hand. I really can't explain it. I just know where I am. I can walk from the lower Garden District all the way to Jackson Square in the same way a lost dog finds its way home. The French Quarter is infamous for Bourbon Street, of course, but it has amazing architecture and a truly unique history that goes well beyond Mardi Gras beads being thrown down from its balconies. My picture was taken a few days ago in Vieux Carre at the first "Reveillon" of the season. A smattering of restaurants in Nawlins still serve this traditional four-course Creole Christmas meal during the month of December. And, it is truly awesome!

The word "reveillon" means "awakening." A Reveillon was typically served after midnight-mass on Christmas Eve. I always serve one--though I'm neither French  nor Creole, nor did I grow up anywhere near Nawlins. This year, my menu includes grilled pear on field greens topped with caramelized pecans and a maple-balsamic vinaigrette for the first course; second course is my home-made mac-n-cheese topped with herbed sourdough croutons; third is fresh buttermilk waffles and chicken fritters served with spicy red-jambalaya; the fourth and final course is Bouche de Noel, a chocolate cake shaped like a log from a Christmas tree decorated with marzipan mushrooms, flowers and chocolate ganache bark. I'll also have a "tree" of multi-colored Parisian-macarons--a common fixture of many a Reveillon. I'm really excited to create the feast in a few weeks. Especially after having had a traditional Reveillon in the city where it all began....

Whenever Nawlins brings me back, the first thing I do is head to my favorite spot for Zydeco. More Creole-tradition! It's a unique music-style that incorporates instruments like a fiddle, guitar, drums, accordion, even a "vest frottoir," a kind of washboard made of corrugated steel, worn over the shoulders and chest of the musician. This lovely older couple is always there, dancing a two-step and getting everyone out of their seats to join in. Every year I go, the band leader never fails to ask me the same question, "Hey 'der, you doin' good! Wha' happen t'you?"

He's referring to my leg. I can't exactly float around the dance floor but I do love to dance, especially to live Zydeco, and I usually catch the eye of the band leader and, of course, the man behind the fiddle (we've had a thing for years and years and he always smiles big when I unexpectedly show up at my usual table). 

George Rodrigue's "Blue Dog" looks on approvingly as I explain why I walk with a limp:

"Why, y'all know I'm the loup garou who chewed off her own paw to be free...."

That always gets a laugh. I throw some money in the tip jar and the music starts back up. In the meantime, brioche bread pudding absolutely drowning in vanilla-maple sauce is brought to my table. I never can fit more than three bites in, but man, is it a delectable three bites.   

This year was a particularly fun time because I was there along with the Carolina Panthers. The guys are all so nice, many of whom brought their families. The kids loved to "help" me with the elevator and getting to my room while at our hotel, and yes, there was even a little pre-game chat with the head coach on Sunday morning--not that it helped. Saints still took the day with their home-field advantage.   

#WhoDat!

New Orleans is so much more than a city...she actually breathes. I feel her in the rows of the ancient cemeteries lined with lichen-dotted mausoleums. Hear her in the rustling of dried magnolia leaves along her brick-laden sidewalks. See her in the street art that abounds on buildings in the vibrant Garden District, where a shotgun is a house, not a weapon. Smell her as I stroll beneath thousand-year old oaks in City Park with outstretched branches hanging low with Spanish moss. Touch her in a secret courtyard hidden behind tall gates in the French Quarter, the fountain of youth tucked amidst lemon trees and flowering vines of all varieties. Christ's shadow rises up on St. Louis Basilica at night amidst the revelry of Bourbon Street, as jazz from Fritzel's floats in and around my eardrum like a lullaby, and tourists walk with cups spilling over with alcohol, their gaudy Mardi Gras beads in metallic purples, golds and greens catching the light as they avoid the homeless man singing for a few coins near the market on the corner of Dauphine and Toulouse.

Laissez les bon temps rouler....

Helping New Orleans celebrate her 300th birthday was a  real honor and true pleasure. As always, I am humbled and grateful to have had the opportunity and look forward to returning again. I never know when the-city-with-a-soul will call me back home, but she always does.

And, I shall always answer.

#300

*All photos are Copyright Rebecca Housel 2017

The tightness in my chest has been there for a few days now. It seems to become more acute when I remember my losses from 2015. Yes, that was a few years ago but the pain from loss only improves when you have the ability to rebuild. Sadly, I don't So, the pain continues on and on and on, ad infinitum. Don't get me wrong...it's MUCH better than it was even a year ago. But I do have moments of total recall--like a brain reset. This usually follows a period of stress. Some of you may recognize the psychological pattern...it's called Post-traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD.

I sometimes forget that I've suffered any trauma at all. Ever. When I'm surrounded by people and life is busy, I'm a happy camper. And, yes, usually cooking for 13-35, too. It's not like I love to cook either, but I am rather good at it and my reputation precedes me. So, when a holiday or family event rolls around, I'm usually making most of the food.

Busy is good when you've had loss like mine. But, I've never not been busy. I take long evening walks with a friend...a tall, gorgeous, 25-year old guy-friend. And, he has a beard...a ginger beard. Thank you, Universe! But that's not the best part...the best part is his intelligent, creative mind and sense of humor, not to mention that comfortable feeling you get when you recognize not so much a person, but a soul. Yeah, that, too.

My nephews are the absolute loves-of-my-life. Doting on them is one of my joys and even though they're all teenagers now, sitting and chatting with Aunt Rebecca about everything from ancient Greek philosophy to mythology to macro- and micro-economics to the latest movie or videogame is still somehow cool. And, of course, so is my home-made mac-n-cheese, Tuscan pizza, banana bread, and that insanely good whipped cream with fresh berries (which I glaze with Georgia honey and a few other special  ingredients, too). This week I attended the youngest's soccer game then took my boys out to dinner. I'm baking banana bread and apple crisp this weekend so I can bring it over for my middle nephew, who specifically asked me if I could make some for him. How could I refuse such a request??? Just thinking about my nephew's face when I said yes makes me smile big.

I have lovely neighbors who all have beautiful babies, ranging in age from 0-5. A nice mix of girls and boys, and, I love them all. I get to do some fun things with  the kids and love to bake for the families. Yes, banana bread, but also my infamous  red velvet cupcakes that are so pretty, an editor from Southern Living featured a pic from my 2015 Instagram feed. Not bad, eh???

Ah, the Canadian question mark...a lingering side-effect from spending a week in Germany with a professional hockey player. Another Leo, like me. We wandered christkindls, drank this awful mulled wine in ceramic Santa mugs, drove to The Netherlands, and explored a medieval castle. It was a fabulous adventure. My first in Europe, actually. It was also the time I got a speeding ticket while driving on the Autobahn. No joke. Luckily, my NASCAR skills went unnoticed while on a recent trip to Ireland. But those roads! So tiny!!! Which only made it feel more like a race track to me.

When I'm not cooking, baking or traveling, I'm busy writing, or hiking, or biking...can you tell I have ADD? Because, I do! And, though it often makes social interactions difficult, the benefits are off-the charts. In one day, I built a bench from salvaged metal and a slab of stained bamboo, painted all the trim and doors in my kitchen, polyurethaned new wood trim in the entryway, cleaned my bathrooms, and wrapped 17 gifts. All while watching the first six episodes of "The Tick" on Amazon Prime. I may have even written a new essay as well. And, I always bike at least 18 miles a day...as the Angelinos say, "Energy, energy, energy!"

So, how is it I have time to feel anything at all???

Welp, it started with a dream. I was pregnant. With my daughter, #Emma. I could feel her kicking and moving around inside me. I put my hand on my abdomen in the dream, right where I saw my tummy popping out from her kicks. She was with me again. And I felt so much happiness. I woke up that morning with my hand on my belly, a little disoriented, thinking I was in in my old house. It's strange, but that's the first time since I lost my daughter that I had a dream like that. Sure, I've had dreams where I woke up because I thought I could hear her cry, or, panicking that I fell asleep while nursing and she was somewhere in my bed. But dreaming I was pregnant again??? That was a first. Naturally, the tears began streaming down my cheeks.

What else could I do in that moment...?

As sad as my sadness is, I'm SO over the tragedies that punctuate my humanity. No, life isn't perfect today and I still have a few loose ends to tie up from that horrible tale of woe that ended two years ago, but everyday in between now and then, I've worked my ass off to transform those negatives into positives. The proof? Today, while perhaps on mile-eight of my bike ride, I realized that I'd evolved beyond the person I was in that dark time. It just kind of hit me. Like the moment you recognized your first letter when you were learning how to read as a kid.

My whole understanding of human existence has shifted. The thing I wanted more than anything in 2015 is still something I want, just with different packaging. I've outgrown much of the ideals I held at that time. I've learned how to say no. I've learned that I matter. I've learned that I'm hawt-as-fuck, regardless of my limp. I've learned that I really don't care what others think...at all. Ben Franklin might have even called me a pragmatist.

Wouldn't that be something? To have that lech Ben Franklin just show up, right here, right now??? Loved his character on the cancelled, "Sleepy Hollow." It was a magical show, despite some of its pitfalls. I mean, the hero was a kick-ass woman! It was also my friend at a time when I needed one...how? Ichabod Crane kept me company when I was totally alone, 1,000-miles from everyone I knew and loved. 

Funny how all roads lead back to that pretty little house I left behind....

It's true, I still cry over my losses. I miss people, places, the feral cat that would visit me, the little sparrow I named Jack, and even the brown recluse spiders that always managed to find their way into my shower or tub. Don't worry--I never killed them. We would always come to a mutual understanding of trust and peace and I would safely usher them to my backyard a la a Tupperware container. But in the midst of remembering all that I miss, my thoughts re-route to my angelic walking partner--the cute one with all the muscles and facial hair, and that incredible soul...is it hot in here, or is it just me??? Then, I think about the trail where I've seen stags, wolves, and angels. I remember my beautiful friends who have supported me through hell-fire and back again. My nephews and all our fun times together. I remember the field where I go to see meteors falling at twilight. The apple orchards with a killer view and a little store that has the best donuts I've ever tasted. The movie theatre that generously invites me to private screenings because I was kind to the manager's wife and he's never forgotten it. The comic book store where I hang out with fellow freaks and geeks on Wednesdays so we can talk about the new arrivals, and a bunch of other random stuff, too. My neighbors who watch over me as if I were family. And, the way the trees in my backyard light up with the sunrise each morning. The sound of peepers in early April on the marsh. All the neighborhood kids who come to visit me at Halloween because they know I give out full-sized candy bars and will talk to them about comics and video games and movies. My little dog's face popping up over the top of the couch when she hears me come home from a long day. It's all pretty wonderful. And, I'm grateful.

That's perhaps the biggest change in my life since 2015...gratitude. Like I said, I still feel the pull of grief for what I miss from that other life, but I am so very glad to be surrounded by so much love and light today that any grief I feel is temporary. For the most part. After a dream like the one I had recently, feeling physical pain is par for the course. The life I have today was forced on me. That will never be happy. The thing is, forced or not, happiness is a choice. It really, truly is. 

I choose happy...every single day. In order to make that choice, I have to be mindful. I have to be present. I have to live with deliberation, not regret. Impermanence is part of the human condition. As I watch my nephews grow up, I remember my own childhood full of loving grandparents and aunts like me--most of whom are gone today. My nephews will sit around a future Thanksgiving table and reminisce about my food, my inappropriate jokes, my inability to stop swearing, my ridiculously loud laugh, and how fun it was to sleep over, binge watch bad movies, and eat so much good food, they thought they would explode. That's one hell of a legacy. How can I be unhappy with that?

How can I be unhappy at all??? Yes, all the loss will always be there. My heart will never fully heal, and apparently, neither will my mind. But my courage to move forward anyway, my resilience, my sense of honor and loyalty to the people who have helped me after that horrific period--it all adds up to gratitude. The consequences of that tragic time have not ended, of course. And, they won't. Not for many years to come. In fact, I suspect that some of my last thoughts before I die will revolve around those very losses. Then again, maybe not. Maybe the next two years of living with gratitude (instead of attitude) will pay off in ways I have yet to imagine. 

Being mindful has that effect...like a blue bell popping out of the remaining snow cover as the earth prepares for new life in spring. The world may still have a few cold days, lots of mud, rain, maybe even a little hail, but as the Sun stays longer and longer in the sky, so, too, shall your heart warm to the world around you.

By the way, tonight is a rare Harvest Moon. In a 78-year period, a Harvest Moon like the one appearing in the Northern Hemisphere this evening only happens in the month of October 18 times. Some part of me feels like there's a special magic to this moon. A sweetness I haven't felt in a very long time. Despite the tightness in my chest, I can breathe. I can laugh. I can smile. And, I hope you can, too.

#ChooseHappy

Ironically, I've been putting off writing about our collective journey toward self-improvement, marking June 1st as our half-way point. Despite the fact that I'm the one writing about it, I find myself overwhelmed  that the first week of May is already over. The second week of four starts today. That means that June 1st, the deadline that was once months away, is now a mere three weeks from being a reality. Which begs the question, are the goals you set for yourself in January three weeks from being real, too??? 

You're not alone if the answer to that question is "no." While I have been consistently working toward all of my goals, there are a few areas I wish I had progressed in further. And, that's ultimately why I'm writing this today.

Three weeks isn't a long time, it's true, but in three weeks, you can shave two inches off your middle and permanently lose five pounds, if not a few more. You can improve your strength, your stamina and your muscle tone. You can write a book. You can paint a canvas. You can tile a bathroom. You can learn (and cook!) a new recipe, then, make it all over again and share it with neighbors. You can binge watch Jessica Jones, Daredevil, Luke Cage, AND The Iron Fist to prep for the August 18th premiere of The Defenders on Netflix. You can also volunteer and raise money for a good cause...or, simply write a check. You can make plans to travel, or, actually go somewhere. Get in your car, truck, or on your motorcycle, and just start driving. You can also meet a new person in three weeks--someone you never expected but who comes with the promise of joy (yes, please!). You can get a new job. Or, complete three-to-six job applications for a new position in maybe a new city or state or both. In other words, three weeks, or 21 days, may not be forever, but it is enough time to make positive, permanent change in your world, and everyone else's, too. 

So, instead of getting overwhelmed at the prospect that June 1st is 21 days away, we must embrace our deadline--and all the possibilities therein. Rather than talk ourselves out of losing those two inches because "there's not enough time," get up and start moving your body...today, and every day for the next 21 days! You will see noticeable changes in the first five days alone. To make the most impact, use both cardio and lifting weights every single day. Use the machines at the gym and rotate your arms and back with your legs and core. Get on a bike or treadmill (or whatever your favorite piece of equipment is) and really get your heart rate in the fat burning zone for at least an hour...yes, every single day. If you don't want to go to the gym every day, find ways of getting that cardio outside or at home. Use ankle and wrist weights and dance your ass off for an hour (I like Pitbull for serious booty-shaking...) or find a local trail and hike using hiking poles to burn more calories or use hand weights and get your heart rate going with some power walking. As a writer, I'm sedentary for long periods of time, so I use common household things, like a kitchen chair, or the bathroom sink, to help me do deep squats, deadlift bends, modified crunches, and push ups. We forget sometimes that moving our body is free and can be done anywhere, anytime. If you combine consistent movement with reducing processed foods and high sugar/fat in your diet, you'll look wholly different in just three whole weeks.

I was traveling for three weeks in May 2014, but still went to the gym every day and found a partner for extra sessions at night and, guess what? I lost more than two inches...try two pant-sizes! I couldn't believe it. I'd eat a bowl of Kashi cereal in the morning, grab a Lara bar and a liter of water and head to the gym. I'd bike for an hour (or more) and use some of the weight machines each day, stretching in between. I'd go back to my hotel, make calls, do emails, go to meetings, and write (of course), incorporating extra cardio sessions with a partner at night. I never ate out for dinner and stuck to simple meals like whole wheat baguette with cheese, fresh fruit and nuts. And, dayum, did I look good after three weeks away from home! Not only that, but I got a new job, too. A great deal of the time spent in those three weeks changed my life, and, my future. It's all about perseverance, also known as not giving up. The mind will always give up long before your body...a good thing to remember in not just health-pursuits, but in any area of your life you wish to change in the next three weeks.

Ask yourself what the one goal you really want to achieve by June 1st is. Begin working toward that goal today. Spend time each day for the next 21 days making that goal a reality, and, you WILL succeed. I guarantee you will be closer to your goal by June 1st and ready to take on the next big thing you want to achieve. For me, my goals center around the same things--book projects, financial security, staying healthy, and, the one thing I want more than anything else in the world, love. If you can break down your top priorities into four categories, you'll feel less overwhelmed and will be more likely to work a little more on each one, each day.

No matter what your day job is, your "real" job is making your own life better. When you do that, you improve the lives of everyone else around you. That's a big deal. Like Anchorman, but without the 70's stache or polyester suit (milk wasn't the only bad choice in that movie...).

You may live more than one lifetime over the course of your existence, but one thing is absolutely certain: You will never live this one lifetime again. Don't just plug into social ideas of "normalcy," take risks. Be brave! This is your shot. Make it count.

I believe in you...isn't it about time you did the same??? 

#ThreeWeekWin  

The woman who writes all the blog entries that more 314,000 of you have been reading? She's real. That's her. Or rather, me. Nice to meet you! 

When I write about love (or anything else for that matter), I write from personal experience. In the insert, left, taken just a few days ago, I'm at a bar on a "date." The Boston Red Sox were playing the LA Dodgers. I'm originally from Boston and work for a company located in LA. So the game was particularly intense for me. And the date? It may not show up in my books (everything I do isn't like a scripted sex fantasy...), but I did have a nice time.  

My wild protagonists who drink tequila shots and enjoy spending time with 20-somethings aren't all exactly like me--though tequila shots are my drink of choice (only 69 calories...what a serendipitous number!). But their lives do bear some resemblance to mine. Like the smokin' hot 20-something who tried to pick me up as I walked out of the grocery store two weeks ago. He literally chased me down in order to say this:
 
"This is going to sound like a total pick-up line, but how do I know you?"

My response? "Hard to tell with your clothes on but I think you're the lifeguard supervisor at my gym."

Can't make this stuff up! When #LOVE isn't the focus, I write and speak about Pop Culture as The #PopCultureProfessor (@DocHousel on Twitter). The LA Times, USA Today, Esquire (Latin America), Huffington Post, Marie Claire (Roma), Salon.com, Women's World, Redbook, London Times, and other national/international publications have used my quotes on everything from Hollywood to Twilight to Iron Man to Fifty Shades of Grey. I've published five books on pop culture (so far...more on the way!) and am a frequent guest on pop culture podcasts about Doctor Who (like the Cultdom Collective), radio on pop culture (like LA's Krypton Radio), and rock-and-roll talk shows (like Anarchy Radio in the Pacific Northwest).

My work takes me on the road quite a bit thanks to Wizard World and their AMAZING Comic Cons featuring a number of my clients, including Showtime's Homeland star and Joss Whedon-darling, expectant mom, Morena Baccarin; the incomparable James Hong, an insanely funny man who has acted in more than 500 roles over the last 57 years, and, whose recent film with Ryan Reynolds, RIPD, was a terrific summer blockbuster that had me laughing out loud; the beloved (and inspirational!) best-selling author and award-winning actor, Henry Winkler; mega-talent of stage and screen (and one of my favorite people on the planet), HBO's True Blood star, Denis O'Hare; HBO Canada's star of the award-winning comedy, Call Me Fitz, 90210 star, author, director, producer, and 21st century Renaissance man, Jason Priestly...James Marsters (Buffy, Angel, Torchwood, Warehouse 13), John Barrowman (Doctor Who, Torchwood, Arrow), Eliza Dushku (Bring It On, Buffy, Angel, Tru Calling, Dollhouse), Kevin Sorbo (The Adventures of Hercules), Jason David Frank (MMA Champ, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers), Brandon Routh (Superman Returns, Scott Pilgrim, Chuck), Charisma Carpenter (Lying Game, Buffy, Angel), Michael Madsen (Sin City, Kill Bill, Reservoir Dogs), Sam Trammell (True Blood), Sam Witwer (Being Human, Star Wars: Clone Wars), Paul Wesley (Vampire Diaries), Torrey DeVitto (Pretty Little Liars, Vampire Diaries), and oh yes, the man I have total girl-wood for, Kris Holden Reid of SyFy's Lost Girl and Showtime's The Tudors (call me...). 

I've also been interviewed by Emmy-winning writer and producer, Tom Wagner, for Paper Heroes, a PBS American Masters Series documentary on comic books as the first female scholar in the States to focus on comics. Some of the comic book artists and writers I know, love and have worked with include Gail Simone (Batgirl, Red Sonja), Kody Chamberlain (Sweets: A New Orleans Crime Story, MTV's Punks), Mark Texeira (Punisher, X-Men, Vampirella, Hero's Death), Mike Raicht and Charles Paul Wilson III (Stuff of Legend, X-Men, Dark Shadows), Rob Guillory (Chew), Hope Larson (A Wrinkle in Time), Dan Schaefer (TMNT, Walking Dead, Grimm), Brett Weldele (The Surrogates), Chrissie Zullo (Cinderella's Fables), Tyler Kirkham and Scotty Lobdell (Superman), Bob Layman (Iron Man), Nate Edmondson (Where is Jake Ellis?), and many, many more super-talented people that simply rock my world in terms of their passion for comic books. Yes, I was that girl--the freak-and-geek who ran around without my shirt on, swinging from the trees as Tarzan, fencing boys with branches as Zorro, and generally saving my small world from "evil" as a super-heroic kid who related more to fictional monsters like the Wolfman than to actual humans.

Am I a real professor? Yes! Eleven teaching nominations and five awards agree that, indeed, not only am I a teacher, I'm a kick-ass teacher. The only professor who raps (yes, I rap--get over it), my particular talent is helping students not only see their full potential, but realize that potential as doctors, lawyers, politicians, CEOs, writers, artists, pro athletes, film-makers, illustrators, animators, reporters, journalists, actuaries, graphic designers, engineers, rocket scientists--you name it. My beloved "Housel-alums" make me PROUD every single day. Our connection is truly unique, one that has transcended both time and space. It's a lot like a quantum entanglement at the sub-atomic level, making my existence extraordinary. Well, more extraordinary than it already is to be on our miraculous little planet.

And the rest? You can catch up by reading my blog archives. There's A LOT of material there...on philosophy, comics/books, film, pop culture, culinary arts, history, social theory, politics, medicine, #LOVE, even baseball! I do have one hint about something coming up in the near future...it has to do with a video series that's gotten 20-million hits on YouTube. It's hysterical. It's EXPLOSIVE. And my fellow comedienne and Drop Dead Diva star, Margaret Cho, has also been featured in this same series. Titillated? Me, too! Hate to be a tease, but.... ;)

Until next time, you, dear readers, are very much #PopCultureProfessor APPROVED!!!

"You stay classy, San Diego...I'm Ron Burgundy???"  

PS: If you miss my pop culture cooking recipes, please use the contact page to make an inquiry--after all, there's no such thing as a free lunch.

Living in the second decade of the 21st century hasn't been very fun. Admit it. The global economy is in the proverbial toilet, evidenced by unprecedented highs in precious metals like gold. Joblessness is an epidemic. And while those diagnosed with cancer have a much better chance of living longer, cancer itself is on the rise. Global warming is creating natural disasters around the world. Oil spills infect our oceans, which now have 98% less fish than ever before. Let's face it--things have gone from bad to worse, with no end in sight. But don't despair! There are a whole host of reasons why, despite everything else, 2011 and beyond is still a GREAT time to be alive:

1) A recent Harvard study found that when female participants drank 1-2 glasses of alcohol 7 days a week beginning in middle age, those same individuals lived to 70 without any major chronic diseases, including cancer and diabetes. More good news? Yes! The participants were relatively healthy well into their 80's. The benefits of red wine have long been touted as beneficial to heart-health, but new findings also show that a dose of daily alcohol can help with Alzheimer's and dementia, too. Teetotalers beware!

2) Did you also know that just tasting fatty foods can release endocannabinoids in your body, mimicking the effect of...you guessed it, cannabis. Looks like Harold and Kumar were actually on to something. Bring on the brie! It's time to get legally-lit....

3) Carbs are brain-food, despite their bad reputation as diet-killers, and there's no more beloved carbohydrate than potatoes. Fried, baked, mashed, roasted, grilled, sauteed...we all love 'em! If you've wanted to lose weight in the last, say, twenty years or so--chances are you've banished this simple, delicious root vegetable from your diet. No more! Potatoes help lower blood pressure in obese people as much as oatmeal...without the added pounds. I'll take mine with extra cheese!

4) Though processed carbohydrates like white bread still get the thumbs down, eating a slice of wholsesome whole grain ups your dopamine...a feel-good chemical in your brain. So does eating a square of dark chocolate. And in case you're not sure what that means, eating these foods have the same effect on dopamine-release in your brain as the 80's-chic drug, cocaine...without the big ups and down, or, disfigured nostrils. Bonus!

5) Sex! Let's talk about it., baby Women who have sex on a regular basis not only live longer, but look younger...up to EIGHT years younger! Who needs Botox??? Oh, and sex is a decent calorie-burner as well, girls--250 calories or so--or the equivalent of snowshoeing for 30 minutes.

6) Caffeine-addiction has come under recent scrutiny thanks to sugary energy drinks but it seems that caffeinated coffee may be a brain's best friend. New studies have found that anti-oxidant rich coffee is good for your brain! Who knew that all those Starbuck's splurges would have such long-term benefits??? Not only are there implications of reduced stroke and dementia, but it helps prevent brain cancer as well. By the way, brain cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-death in the States. Think of that ridiculously expensive daily latte as one of the best investments money can buy. Gold? Who needs it!

7) The Sun. Skin cancer is rampant...and rather deadly. It's the number one killer in Australia, who has more skin cancer clinics on Bondi in Sydney than corner drug stores. We've been told to stay out of the Sun. Avoid it between the hours of 10am and 2pm. And people have listened. Now, Vitamin D deprivation is considered one of the leading causing of depression, also accounting for a rise in osteoporosis, osteopenia and osteo-arthritis. Ouch! New research is showing that we actually need to go out into the Sun instead of avoid it at all costs...but in moderation. Heading outdoors between the hours of 10am and 2pm are now recommended. Try getting out for ten minutes at a time, wearing sunblock--which helps block damage of UVA and UVB rays without blocking Vitamin D benefits--about three times a day. Or, go take your lunch break outside in the sunshine for 30 minutes. Vitamin D supplements also work, but nothing works as well as the natural conversion process instigated by having fun in the Sun. Other benefits: Being out in the sunshine is a proven method of combatting depression, without the nasty side-effects of anti-depressants. Take two and call me in the morning, Sunshine!

No, I'm not going to tell you that exercise is now bad for you--we still have to move our bodies to live longer, combat disease, and keep our minds sharp--but all-in-all, the second decade of the 21st century is pretty darned good. As with everything, moderation is always key. And by no means should you start engorging on fried food to get a natural high or become an alcoholic to live longer. Always talk to your doctor before changing your health routine. But barring the obvious extremes, I'd say human bodies have it made in 2011 and beyond.

Seven reasons to live better? You bet!

Cheers to that...and, to you.
 

We all get so wound up in life's events--happy or sad--that we often forget to take better care of ourselves when that happens. The last few weeks have been like that for me. Healthy eating wasn't really an option. Working out was few and far between. but amazingly, when I stepped on the scale today, I was six pounds lighter...while on what I call the "pop tart and bagel diet." It sounds impossible, doesn't it? It's true that some of that loss is most likely muscle; I lift weights 3-4 times a week and when I say lift...I mean it. We're not talking about a fluffy 30 -50 lbs, two reps of ten...we're talking 130-150 lbs, two reps of 15! My spotty work outs have certainly resulted in some minor muscle loss, but not six pounds worth! So what exactly happened then? How does anyone lose weight while eating pop tarts and bagels?

You hear stars talk about this kind of thing all the time: "Oh, I never work out," or "I eat whatever I want," but yet you look at them and they're practically skin and bones! But the trick is MOVEMENT. During the last few weeks, my life has been extremely busy to the point where I'd be up earlier than 6am and working until after midnight. I was on the move, a lot. And though I wasn't exactly doing my usual cardio 5x/week, and didn't feel like I was getting particularly aerobic, I was ALWAYS MOVING.

Yes, I did eat pop tarts and bagels--but I wasn't eating much else. If I had a bagel in the morning, there'd be maybe one other meal that would follow. Pop tarts might be lunch but then I hadn't yet eaten breakfast and was only in the mood for a bowl of cereal later on. I hadn't weighed myself for several weeks. Today, scared to step on the scale again, I pushed myself to take a look down at the numbers. I could barely believe it.

Summer is a time when people DO move around more than usual--especially if you live at a 45-degree latitude where winter is a fairly harsh season. Summer is also a time when people gather for picnics, BBQ's, reunions, weddings, go out to ice cream, attend street fairs...so our diets in summer may include more high-calorie foods than usual. My hope in talking about this today is to remind us all that we need to enjoy life more and not sweat the small stuff as much. Life is for living--not counting calories! As a middle-aged woman, I'm right there with you, sisters--you've got to keep your calories down and your activity up, but that doesn't mean you should avoid certain foods or deprive yourself. Moderation and movement helps everyone at any stage of life stay healthier. Even if you happen to lapse into the pop tart and bagel diet, like I did.  ;)

Until next time, dearest readers!

I recently saw a friend whose mother, like my grandmother, had a mild form of dementia. It is hard to see those you love suffer but after you finish worrying about them, the next natural worry is yourself. Will I get dementia, too? But it's more than that. Without memory, we can't function within a job; we can't care for ourselves or others. Maintaining memory should be a high priotity for all of us. But sometimes, we don't always see the connection between say, wanting to maintain our memory and our diet.

Holly A. Taylor, Ph. D. is the author of a new study published in the nutrition journal Appetite that addresses this very problem. In her study, Taylor discusses how depriving our bodies of carbohydrates actually starves the brain of glucose, which is the brain's primary energy source. Did you know that? I didn't. Glucose is sugar, by the way. So if you're a diabetic, like me, that makes this news a little tougher to, if you'll pardon the pun, swallow.

Natural memory loss can come from a number of sources outside of things like dementia and Alzheimers. Temporary memory loss can result from anything from stress to hormonal shifts during pregnancy or menopause, If there is a big event happening in our lives, whether celebratory or not, our brain tends to hyper-focus on that event, in other words, we become distracted. Mental distraction can account for things like not being able to recall a certain word or name of a person in a given moment. "Chemo brain" is a phrase used by doctrors to describe what can take 7-10 years after chemotherapy treatments to resolve, particularly with use of the drug Taxol. Women and men who have gone through chemotherapy treatments using Taxol have often noticed difficulty with memory...even up to ten years AFTER their last treatment. With cancer diagnoses hitting more, and younger, groups of the general population, the thought of say a 20-year old in college having to deal with 10 years of memory issues is devastating to that person's future. The good news is, you can combat "chemo brain" by doing all the things you SHOULD be doing to improve your mermory, whether a cancer patient or not. 

Stimulating mental activity is the best way to keep your brain, and your memory, in shape. But how do you do that AND keep your body in shape, given that brain food equals carbs??? Taylor's study recommends eating small amounts of starches. Participants in Taylor's study who were on low carb, low-cal diets performed poorly on all their memory tests but were able to regain some of that lost footing after eating starches more frequently. Why? Even if you feel like your body has enough fat stores to last you a lifetime, it's not about fat--the body doesn't store glucose--which means, in order to feed your memory, you have to eat carbs. Now, that's not a license to eat a loaf of bread every day, but it does mean that those of us out there dealing with things like a menopausal metabolism still have to find a place in our sluggish stomachs for carbs.

Carbs don't have to be cookies, cakes and bread (though the good carbs always are). Fruit and vegetables have natural carbs. Peanut butter or almond butter on an apple, for example, would be one way to up your carbs and keep a healthy diet. Try whole wheat pita with hummos or an ounce of cheese with whole wheat crackers. Fresh pasta is often made without the "bad stuff" and can be made with things like wheat or spinach--but you probably don't want to eat a serving right before bed if you're worried about weight-gain (try it as an early lunch a few times a week and watch your memory soar while your calories sink!).

Once you've fed your brain it's daily dose of glucose (and yes, you have to maintain eating carbs each day to keep feeding your brain...glucose doesn't store, even if fat does!), engaging your brain in activities like crossword puzzles, sodoku, learning a new language, reading a new book (and I'm not talking about romance novels--your brain needs to be stimulated, not anything else...ahem), and learning new activities, like rock climbing--anything with complexities will do it! Learn how to play cards or a musical instrument, learn how to build an engine, study astrophysics...you get the idea. Writing something new each day is also a way to keep your brain sharp...for all you writers out there, anyway. Daily meditation also not only improves stress, but your memory and general health as well. Regular medidators were found to have a much higher percentage of brain activity than those who didn't medidate at all.

And according to Columbia University Medical Center research, eating good quantities of foods low in saturated fats, like nuts, fish, and veggies, can lower risk of developing Alzheimer's by 42%!!!

So the saying, "You are what you eat," isn't just a cliche--it's reality. Eat more red, orange and dark green veggies and fruits, nuts like almonds and walnuts, and of course, supplement with "smart" carbs EACH DAY like whole wheat crackers, pasta and pita--work on your brain's elasticity by engaging in new learning on a regular basis--and you're memory will remain safe and, perhaps more importantly, sound.

Have you eaten your CARBS today???  And by the way, cupcakes, cookies and bread still work as your daily dose of carbs...if you're feeling naughty, that is....

Until next time, dearest readers!