Organic Love

I'm sure you've seen it in every super market. The section that's labeled ORGANIC. I know what you're thinking. Those are just for hippie-tree-huggin-granolas who think they're too good to buy normal food.

WRONG.

I used to think that way, but over the past couple of years as I've researched and read different articles my mind has changed completely.

Here's just 5 pesticides that are contaminating our food, air, and water.

1. Glyphosate: Used on corn, cotton, canola, soy (which have been genetically modified mind you), parks and home gardens. Mississippi Basin studied the ground soaked with residue and found that the water had considerably higher amounts permissible in drinking water. This chemical has been linked to  BIRTH DEFECTS, NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS, FERTILITY ISSUES AND CANCER. 

2. Atrazine: Used on corn mostly; we go through about 75 MILLION POUNDS per year. This chemical DISRUPTS THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM, HAS BEEN LINKED TO BIRTH DEFECTS, INFERTILITY AND POSSIBLY CANCER. 

3. Chlorpyrifos: Once mainly used in garden situations, chlorpyrifos is now being used on apples, corn, oranges, almonds, and cotton. Low-doses of it can cause fatigue, nausea, blurred vision, headaches, difficulty concentrating, and blurred vision. Higher doses can cause RESPIRATORY PARALYSIS, ADHD, AND LOWER IQ'S.

4. Metolachlor: Used on corn, soy, and sorghum, as well as some lawns and trees. THE EPA HAS RECOGNIZED THIS AS CANCER CAUSING. Other side effects include JAUNDICE, CONVULSIONS, DIFFICULTY BREATHING, AND NAUSEA.

5. Metam sodium: "This widely used fumigant and pesticide is commonly applied to potatoes in concentrations as high as 150 to 300 pounds per acre." NAUSEA, DIFFICULTY BREATHING, DAMAGE TO THYROID, VOMITING, HORMONE DISRUPTION, AND BIRTH DEFECTS. 

Those are only 5... There are tons more in use right now, and some that aren't legal in the U.S.A. (ie, products from Mexico, China, etc.)

These pesticides don't just stay on the surface of your food, and wash off with a little water. They seep into the tiny pores of your fruits and veggies contaminating the entire thing. It also seeps into the ground causing runoff to be contaminated. 

Still not convinced?

Did you know that plants adapt to their environment, much like animals?

What does this mean?

Plants can become pesticide and herbicide resistant. 

Meaning, the farmers then start using a different, sometimes stronger chemical to treat their precious investments. 

Now I know that organic means dipping into your wallets a little deeper, but wouldn't you rather pay a price right now, than in the future on medical bills? It could save your life.

Also, if you're supermarket doesn't offer a lot of things in the organic section, use my rule of thumb. Always buy fruits and veggies with thin skins organic, and thicker skins can be bought normally.

Here's a link to the Dirty 12 and the Clean 15 if you have any other questions. 

(Seriously though....)

Sugar Challenge Day 1

Well, we made it home safely from Blanding this past weekend. We took the parental's four wheeler and rode that around everywhere. The only down side? MAJOR sunburn... I completely spaced bringing sunscreen. Big mistake. My arms and hands were so burned that I couldn't sleep the following night, and my right hand swelled up. No bueno 

Anywho, while we were there, I enjoyed my last tastings of sugar for 30 days. Luckily, my sister in law Becky is doing it with me or else I'm not sure I would be able to do it! 

So, along with the no sugar thing I've started using MyFitnessPal again. It's an app you can download onto your phone that helps you track your caloric intake, and how much you burn from exercise. It's a pretty awesome, but I always forget to use it. HA. Well anywho, if any of you would like to join me on it, you can add me at cassielynne326. 

Today has been good so far. Well... considering it's only 8:15 in the morning.. ha. Had a great breakfast, and I'm getting ready to head to the gym. 

This blog will serve as my aid when I'm craving sugar so I apologize in advance for the posts that might come up in the next month :)

Oh! I almost forgot! One last thing... 

Words of Wisdom for the day

Sugar Challenge!

Finals are officially done! Holla!
Not gonna lie.. Finals were tough this year and unfortunately my nutrition took the brunt of it all. The stress of studying (biology and I do NOT get along..) and Mark's job offer, mixed with everything else that was going to was tough. And I'll admit, I could have handled it better but I've never been good with stress. Anyway, after going to the doctor and being weighed today, I realized I've gained 10 lbs! Not acceptable. Now, some of that is muscle... But still.

Now, I usually eat pretty good, but lately I've blown it... HENCE (Ya, hence! name that movie!) why I've decided to completely cut out processed sugar for 30 days.

For any of you that know me, I have a massive sweet tooth. I read somewhere that Celiac's crave sugar more...So I blame my crazy 80 year old looking intestines for this curse.

I am bound and determined to stay away from processed sugar, and minimize my natural sugar intake. So, that it why I'm posting this on my blog. Usually I'm the one that others are accountable to, but now I needy someone to be accountable to. So, CONGRATULATIONS blogger world! You get to kick my butt in gear and help me kick my sugar habit.

This plan will go into effect starting Monday. Any of you who would like to join me are welcome, and very much encouraged actually.., haha I have a feeling this is going to be a tough one for me.

I will be savoring my salt water taffy and snickers mini bites this weekend in preparation for next week.

Farewell my sweets. My taste buds will miss you, but my hips won't.

The Newest Additions

Ever since I could remember, we've had a garden. In the younger part of my life, we had a fruit and veggie garden.

My pomerain (Tink) loved the strawberry patch. Any time we couldn't find that dog, we looked in the garden only to find him sitting contently in the middle of the garden with a red stained beard. Not only did we grow strawberries, but we grew raspberries, peas, and tomatoes. I'm sure there was more, but those were my favorites ;) My sister and I would sit out back on the porch and eat what seemed like an entire pea plant for breakfast when they were in season. Have you ever had fresh peas? Oh. My. Goodness.... DELICIOUS. I miss those fresh peas.

Now that I'm an adult, my dream is to one day have my own garden where I can grow fresh veggies and fruits. But alas, apartment life has put that dream on hold.

Until we buy a house of our own, I would like to introduce you to the newest members of the Mueller family!

 Yay!

Sweet Mint

Cilantro

Aloe Vera

I've been seeing these fresh herbs at stores lately, and finally bought some. I'd been debating whether or not to because my last aloe plant died... oops. BUT I am bound and determined to help these little guys survive!

So You Hate To Run...

Let's be honest. If you didn't have to do cardio to lose weight, no one would do it for fun. (Mostly...)

Cardio is not my favorite thing to do. I do it because I know it's good for my body and for losing/maintaining my weight, but is there any other benefit?

Scientists have discovered that between the ages of 30 and 90, or brain matter decreases by 20 %. Most of that shrinkage comes from the memory and learning part of our brains. That means that our brains literally shrink with age! Don't worry though, there may be hope for the senile!

The University of Illinois did a study on the effects of aerobic exercise versus non aerobic and the size of the brain. 58 people in their 60's and 70's worked out 3 times a week for 1 hour. 29 did aerobic exercises, 29 did total body stretching. They had them do this for 6 months, after which they they took MRI's of everyone's brain. The results showed that those who participated in aerobic exercise had significant increases in brain volume compared to those who did non-aerobic. 

Crazy right? 

Now, I'm not trying to bash on yoga, or stretching by any means. I LOVE me some yoga and I think everyone should be doing it. But maybe next time you'll think twice about sitting on the couch instead of going for a run. You're body and mind will thank you!

The 9:1 Rule

Let's be honest, sticking to that 'four letter word' diet isn't the easiest thing to do. As much as I'd like to say I'm perfect, I'M FAR FROM IT. I have a sweet tooth, and I indulge it a little too much some times. But, as I've come to know of the 9 to 1 rule, I've been doing a lot better! 

Here's how it works:

When you start thinking about changing your lifestyle by eating better, you may start out by having 9 bad days, and 1 good day. (Hey, that's a start, right?) But as you motivate yourself, it may become 8 bad days and 2 good days. The numbers keep switching and eventually you may have 5 bad and 5 good days. Not too shabby... The goal is to get to 1 bad day and 9 good days. I'm not quite there yet. I would say that I'm about 2 bad days and 8 good days. Not quite where I want to be, but I'm a work in progress :)

If you are at the start of your lifestyle chance (I say lifestyle change because that's exactly what it is. You have to completely change the way you eat and the activity level you do) don't get down. Everybody has a different starting point, and everybody has a different ending point so don't compare yourself to others and their personal journey. 

One of the worst things you could do is compare yourself to others. 

Compare yourself the person you were yesterday, and be better.

Mantra

As I've gone through my ups and downs of my fitspiration journey, but the one thing has stuck with me and pushed me to keep going when I've felt like I'm in a rut is this:

You will never know how much you are capable of unless you push yourself to your limits. 

Find a mantra that works for you and take it to heart. Use it as fitspiration, no matter your goals, and go for them!