Sugar Scare

It's been a very long time since I've posted anything.  I'd like to change that, but life gets in the way.  Oh, and the distractions.  Have I told you how I can get lost for hours on Facebook and the internet?  It's kind of disgusting.  

So, what's been going on?  Well, I've been using my essential oils, teaching 101 classes and helping other with their day to day health issues.  That's not to say that I am qualified as a doctor or pharmacist -- I just find information and share it with those that ask, and let them make their own decisions.  But now, I have a problem of my own.

For the past three weeks I've been experiencing vertigo.  I have been trying to trace back to how it may have started.  I had my first (and only) cold since starting Essential Oils.  It came during the week of Valentine's Day.  It only lasted three days -- seriously!  When is the last time you had a cold that only lasted three days?  Those oils are a-working for me! (Thieves in the diffuser, and my Thieves roller bottle on my feet every day!)



I was getting over the cold on Friday 17, which began our winter recess.  As soon as school was out, I was on my way to my daughter & son-in-law's house for a fun and relaxing week.  I slept on the couch and didn't do my usual nightly routine of diffusing lavender & cedar wood.  Now, I did have a residual sniffle or two, but the cold was basically over.

Fast forward - I got home late Thursday night and on Saturday morning, woke up with just a tinge of vertigo.  I didn't think much of it, but then it hit big time on Sunday.  I had to go sit and close my eyes.  I felt nauseous.  After a few minutes I felt better, but still wasn't ready to leave the chair.  I got on my phone and checked out Facebook and came across a friend's post about how to relieve nasal congestion.  As I dug deeper, I also discovered that this massage technique helped to clear out the lymphatic system.  I figured that perhaps with the cold and no diffusing the past week, I may have clogged up.  I did the massage for about 15 minutes and lo and behold, I was good to go!

Well, that was temporary.  I have had vertigo nearly every day since.  Not as severe, except my first day back to work when I almost had to sit down in the shower.  I keep massaging and I recover quickly, but I wanted to know what was causing this.  

So, as I'm reading an article last night about reducing sugar and losing weight, it occurs to me that my vertigo may be a sign of diabetes.  Oh, hell no!  I tossed and turned all night wondering about this (instead of just getting up to go do an internet search), but that was the firs thing I did this morning -- and yes, it could be.  

What's next?  Well, I decided to make some big changes -- changes I should have made long ago (and tried to, but they never take hold, right?)  I'm going to focus on fresh veggies, a bit of meat, and abandon sugar as much as I can.  I will probably still have a small square of dark chocolate after dinner because I think it does have some health benefits and it wards off other sugar cravings.  (I like the 76% or 82% cacao.)  

One of my searches said that cinnamon is great for balancing blood sugar, so I had a cup of tea with a drop of cinnamon bark oil in it.  In another article, they suggested alpha lipoid acid as a supplement and I found one with cinnamon - win win!  And wine!  The article I read last night suggested red wine to increase mitochondrial activity which boosts fat burning by 25% and reduces the formation of new fat tissue by 80%.  I'm all about that! (That part will be easy!)

Okay, now the sad part.  Exercise.  Yeah, I'm terrible.  I can do something for a few minutes, but I'm so out of shape that my stamina is gone.  But, this article suggested "flash fitness,"  gentle pace for 3 minutes, then fast pace for 3 minutes -- repeat for a cycle of 21 minutes.  That doesn't seem too bad.  

Food?  Fresh veggies and fruits, whole grains, healthy fats.  All the good stuff you know you should eat -- but no sugar and no dairy.  I don't eat much dairy as it is -- cheese on occasion, and half & half in my coffee on the weekends -- so that won't be hard.

So, that's my plan and I'm sticking to it.  


I hope.


Okay, okay.  I'll try my best and not give in!  As I tell my students, you have to be motivated, persistent, and work hard.  Assiduous.  That's the word.  I'll be assiduous.

Until I get back here ... See you soon!
Thanks for reading.

Linda