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Update on my mother

My mother – thanks God is still with us. She is maintaining reasonable lifestyle and is relatively happy. However, the chemo made her arthritis worse. As a result she is not very mobile and stays at home most of the times. If she goes out, it is only for short walks. She needs a stick to support herself and lost confidence to do longer walks. She stopped taking most of the supplements and I suspect that she is back to her old diet – which is mostly vegetarian but does not include much of fresh veg. Psychologically it is not so wonderful – up and down. So all in all we are happy she is still with us but the quality of her life is not that fabulous. I think the main problem is that she is slipping in the old lifestyle – she always wants to help and do everything for everyone and tries to do it even now. That means her own wellbeing is not her priority anymore.

If I would make one note to anyone reading this – it would be – don’t go back to your old ways. Make changes for better and stick to them. Stay focused on yourself. Don’t try to save other others all the time, don’t try to be perfect, don’t be scared of not being perfect and be more selfish. You don’t need to sacrifice yourself for your family. Instead thrive and they will thrive with you. At the end – everybody will benefit from your strength although in a different way than you imagined. The household can wait, kids and husbands can be more independent than you think 🙂 Good luck to everyone xxx

Update: I have noticed more visitors coming to read this post. What I want to say is this – stay focused on yourself and think about your life in a great detail. What can you change? Make the changes today and don’t put them off – like giving up sugar, upping greens, taking more rest. Delegate things that you do for others – share the tasks. You don’t have to carry everything on your shoulders. My mum always felt guilty about resting or even about thinking about herself and her needs – don’t do this! This is your life and no one is going to live it for you.

Intermittent fasting – will it help?

Started a new regime. I am bit late to this as IF (intermittent fasting) started to be very popular about 2 years ago. Anyway, I don’t care about that. The thing I care about is weight loss and staying healthy at the same time. I was never into diets and did not try any. The only thing I tried couple of years ago was a detox – which was very good for my health but I lost very little weight.

One colleague at work has mentioned to me that her uncle has cured his diabetes with the Intermittent fasting and she herself is practising it for more then two years. That inspired me to do bit of a search online. To my surprise I discovered that there is a big community already using IF to reduce fat, feel fit and overall get better.

There are many variations and different rules. I started very simple 16:8 system – meaning I don’t eat for 16 hours and I eat only during the 8 hours window. It fits my lifestyle best. I hope this will help me to lose weight – ideally 20 kg, gives me more energy and rejuvenates me. Wish me luck 🙂

Flaxseed Oil experience

I have been thinking about trying it for a while and finally got to it. The main reason was that I wanted to see if it helps with a weight loss in anyway. I did know that it is very volatile oil – it goes bad really quickly and you need to use it within a week or two after opening. I was warned about the taste but did not care because I can handle most of the herbal medicine.

But this oil I bought did not taste good. Was very bitter. So my original plan taking 2 teaspoons of the oil daily changed to only 1 teaspoon. I did it rather reluctantly for 2 weeks and then stopped. I did not notice any weightloss or reduction of hunger. The energy levels remained same. The only difference was an improved bowel movement.

All in all, I don’t think I will go back to it. It is really hard to get a good quality oil that was obtained and stored correctly. It has to be used quickly. It does not taste great and the pay off was not worth it. I am sure there are many people who reaped the benefits but unfortunately if was not me. But again, the best thing it is to try for yourself.

Update: 2019 – I will go back to it but will have to find a good flaxseed oil that does not go rancid and is stored correctly. I have read several articles how important it is. If the oil is old or not stored properly it does not have any effect on your health.

More about gums…

I know I have been writing about gums in last few posts. I think the doctor who treated my grandmother started it. He said to us that we need to look after the gums as the bacteria from inflmated gums can spread to the body and can even lead to heart attack. I never made that connection and it was quite revealing. Since then I try to keep my gums in optimal health – hence so much focus. One of the products I use for bleeding gums is mouthwash called Corsodyl. It is a quick fix. But again, it will not heal the gums. That is a long process and as the doctor said – the healthy gums are the key to the healthy body.

Oil pulling with coconut oil

Just a short note on my own experience with oil pulling. If you are not sure what it is I recommend a nice post on Simple Ula Blog. I have been oil pulling for a while but not on a regular basis. The reason is simple. I don’t have enough time in the morning. To do oil pulling properly you need to add another 15-20 minutes to your morning routine. Moreover, you should do it on empty stomach – before you eat or drink anything. When you finish you should rinse your mouth with a glass of warm water and a little bit of salt.

I use coconut oil although originally only sunflower oil or sesame oil was used. Moreover, coconut oil turns solid in cold temperature and that means when you spit it out it will harden and might clog your toilet. Therefore when you use coconut oil you should always spit it into the trash bin.

Now, my own experience. After oil pulling your teeth will be really sparkling and that is probably not a big surprise. What I really like is that it helps to close my bleeding gums and heals them. I usually need to do it for 3-4 days to get the desired result. The other time I use oil pulling is during flu season when I feel bit of a sore throat. It usually able stops any infections but I really have to do it early on. If I already have a full blown cold – it does not help. Coconut oil tastes lot better then other oils and oil pulling with it can be a very pleasant experience. Next time you feel little bit under the weather I recommend you try it 🙂

Update: 2019 – I am using coconut oil for oil puling especially when I feel that I am going down with flu or cold. Also when I have a sore throat or unwell.

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How is the business going

Well, I know that most people write about their business when they have achieved something…anyways here are some notes on my own experience so far. One thing I need to say – it is a slow process. And I mean really slow. My website is set up and I have sent out e-mails introducing my business. I have signed up with a countless websites and directories. After some hesitation I have started with social media, too. I have been avoiding Facebook for years and still did not give in. Instead I have opted for Instagram and Pinterest as I liked their vibe more.

Here is what I think about these two at the moment:

1. Instagram – I love, love Instagram. I have immediately got into it. Started to post, comment and like. The response was good and actually better than expected. I am slowly building following and loving it in the process. I give it an hour a day – just to like and comment. The comments won me most subscribers and interest. I post once a week. Sunday works best for me and on Monday morning I usually have a new group of subscribers waiting for me. I like the positive atmosphere, people comment in a very nice manner. I did not come across any haters or trolls like you will find on YouTube for example. People there are creative and supportive. I hope it stays that way! I have read some articles about how to get new subscribers on Instagram but I have not really use them. Advice like: “Post every day.” is not practical for me. My own advice for this social channel would be – make interesting photos of your product, be consistent, supportive with your comments, follow like minded people and things will start to snowball pretty quickly.

2. Pinterest – because I have taken to Instagram I thought let’s try Pinterest, too. I have read how great it will be for my business and how many sales I will get from Pinterest alone. However, at the moment I am just at the stage of the building some interesting boards. With regards to followers, my numbers are way way lower than from Instagram and no sales, yet. I will continue with it as I am told by numerous articles that it takes some time to build it up. At the moment I am lukewarm about it. I think it is great for inspiration or getting ideas or maybe browsing when having free time. In some ways I don’t see much difference from searching something by Google Images. I miss the personal connection with followers and ability to comment on boards. The connection is not so direct and instant as with the Instagram (or maybe I still have not figure out how to do it).

I will keep on going. Not giving up 🙂

Wonders of Baking Soda

In my notebook, I have about 50 ways how to use baking soda. Over the years I got to
try several of them. I always have a pack of baking soda at home as I use it for baking quite often. The other times I use it are as follows:

Getting rid of stains – I mix a teaspoon of baking soda with a teaspoon of water and then I put the mixture onto the stain. If the stain is bigger, I make a bigger amount and cover the stain completely. I keep it working for about an hour and then I wipe it with a damp cloth. If the stain is still there I repeat the process. This helped me to clean stains inside the bathtub and stains on some plastic toys. I am not sure if it will help you to get rid of the stains from some other materials.

Teeth whitening – again I mix a teaspoon of baking soda and a teaspoon of water to make a paste. Then I use it the same as I would toothpaste. When brushing I try to avoid gums as the baking soda can be abrasive and works like peeling. I have read that it may irritate gums if used too often. I did not have that experience but I don’t do this more often than once a month. I would therefore caution anybody with sensitive teeth/gums to do that more often. Also when brushing your teeth do not rub the teeth with great force. I used this technique when I was a student and did not have money to buy expensive whitening products. It is a great temporary solution.

Getting rid of odor – I use it for example after the place has been painted and I can still smell the fresh paint. I put a bowl filled with baking soda into the corner of the room and usually, it neutralizes the smell. Similarly with smells inside the fridge or cupboard.

Baking soda is very cheap, easy to get, and kinder to the environment than chemical products. There are many more uses but I have mentioned only those that worked for me 🙂

2025 – Just to confirm, I am still using it many years later 🙂

Give your immunity some extra help

In our region the winter is slowly easing off. It is a lovely time of the year. Air is fresher and fragrant and everybody seems to be relieved the cold days are over.
Recently the changes in weather were more obvious and changes in temperature more abrupt. I try to build my immunity as much as I can during this time. If I don’t have time for spring detox, I at least take several little steps. First, I up my Vitamin C intake. I have noticed that the vitamins I get from fruits at this time of the year are not sufficient. Therefore I supplement with Vitamin C. I choose any natural brand and take it whenever I feel I might come down with a cold. With that I take a tablet of Zinc. Again only when I feel bit weak.
The Zinc tablets were recommended to me long time ago by my favorite homeopath. When I told him I am on a vegetarian diet he recommended a course of Zinc in a liquid form. During those days I suffered from sore throats and colds and basically my immunity was very low. The Zinc really made me more resistant and since then I supplement it during the flu season. With Zinc and Vitamin C I also have some fruits with high Vitamin C content. I always loved strawberries and oranges but recently I have found that kiwis work best for me. When I am not well, I slice one or two ripe kiwis and eat them as a snack. I am convinced they help me to stay healthy! So that is my first line of defense. I also drink a lot’s warm or hot water sometimes with lemon or a teaspoon of Apple Vinegar. Usually this simple routine helps me to get through the spring without any cold. Let me know what works for you 🙂

When a little bit of oil goes a long way

I have been always ambivalent about oil. Is it good or bad for me? I have heard so many answers but till today I don’t know the truth. One time I tried to cut out fat out of my diet all together. That did not last long. I missed it. Salads did not taste the same. My skin was dry and did not lose weight as I hoped for. So I went back to using it and did not think much about it. However, when my daughter tried the HCLF vegan diet I did find that there are some oil free recipes that can fill me up and are tasty at the same time. These days I am aiming for small amount of fat when I am cooking. I used to automatically think that if I am making a stir-fry it is healthy for me. But I have overlooked the puddle of oil I used to fry my vegetables in. I am bit more focused now. A big help has been an oil in a spray. Instead of pouring the oil onto the pan I just spray it lightly. The effect is the same. Food gets fried and is tasty while I save on calories from fat. If needed I add bit of water – trick that I learned from HCLF fans. More over the bottle of oil lasts lot longer.

There is one negative I have to mention here. The oils in spray seems to be more expensive. I don’t know why we have to pay more for it. The only difference from a normal bottle of oil is the nozzle. If I could refill the spray then I would not mind as much but the spray I have been using cannot be refilled. If anybody knows where to get spray bottles made from dark glass I would be grateful 🙂

Rescue remedy

One of the remedies I have been leaning on for years are drops from Dr. Bach called Rescue remedy. I have come across them long time ago. Ten years ago to be precise. What I liked straight away was the fact that the mixture was made completely from plants. Moreover it contained some plants I already knew as I always loved botany and leafing through my old plant atlas. The idea that these plants bring help and relieve appealed to me. I have decided to try the power of plants on myself out of curiosity. Nothing to loose right?

The instructions said to use the drops for emergencies and crises. So I did. The result was unexpected…I felt better, calmer and more balanced. I was surprised. Since then I would always reach for the remedy when I felt under exceptional pressure. I do not use it when I face the ‘ordinary’ daily stress as the remedy is meant for more serious crises. At least that is how I understand it. When I take it I always imagine the healing power of plants working through my body and calming me down. So yes, the more sceptical minds might think that it is all mental. However, over the years I have also used it on my kids. When they were little they did not know what are the drops for. The result was same. They felt better. When they were bigger, I used to give them the drops during their exams. On those days I was really happy to be able to give them something to calm their nerves. When I asked them how they felt, they said that they were nervous but it was not a big deal and once the exam started they felt calm and focused.

I have used the Rescue remedy successfully on my family members for the following situations: grief, night terrors, anxiety, panicky feeling and pre-exam nerves. I would always use it only for several days three or four times daily. Sometime I use the drops, sometimes the spray. The results seem to be same but for some reason I prefer the drops.

Update: 2019 – I love, love this product. I am using it for my kids during the exam period. They love it and makes them feel more calm. This product is now available in our local chemist – amazing! It took me years to discover it. I recommend it to everyone who suffers for anxiety and panic attacks. Give it a go 🙂