This was been a good week! Needed to get back in touch with family. Also, I was the recipient of a T-shirt made just for me! How fun is that! Now as far as the refined sugar program, I think this is still going well too. It is truly becoming a way of living. I have made a few adjustments rather than trying to make all the adjustments. I have not had any rebound weight gain even though I have not truly been very strict about my intake. I consciously avoid unnecessary sugars that I used to take for granted. I avoid pop and juice drinks, but not as if they are the plague. I have had pop and juice drinks, but my portions are much more reasonable. No longer, are the days where I want the entire anything. I want to taste it, and not try to consume the entire contents. I drink my coffee and tea black. Coffee truly has a flavor and now that I am drinking it without enhancement, I can recognize these flavors. My taste buds have also adjusted to saltiness which has been a surprise. I am amazed at the saltiness in some pasta sauces, but I was never one for reaching for the salt shaker anyway. I like eggs any style (scrambled, poached, over medium) and did use the salt shaker when preparing them. Not anymore, as I know can detect the natural salty flavor of egg yolk. 

Breads are now whole grain or not consumed, and sandwiches are often open faced to avoid that second slice of bread. But don't get it too twisted, I have become a more sensible eater, but I love, mac n cheese, ribs, dressing, potato salad and the like as always and will continue to prepare them. I just won't be putting them all between two slices of white bread like in the bad old days! ;-) 

Well, it didn't happen because I wanted to get it under control for the holidays. I chose to get it under control because health professional were telling me. Lose weight and get your Blood pressure down. 

You see, I was trying to be a candidate to donate a kidney to a friend who is currently living with kidney disease. During my evaluation I found myself flunking out of "donor school".  i wore the blood pressure monitor for a 24 hour period. Having your upper arm squeezed every 30 minutes for 24 hours is like torture. But the results cam back showing that the readings were too high and that I would be a risky candidate. Thank God my friend has a viable candidate and is awaiting a date for surgery. I however, still have much to do. 

So there you have it. This handsome package is a sleep apnea, blood pressure nightmare waiting to happen, but I'm not going out that way. ;-) Now that the holiday type events are beginning to take place, I can put on a suit and feel absolutely comfortable. I could fit my tuxedo with no problem when we went to the masquerade dance two weeks ago. Of course along with watching my sugar means watching alcohol intake too. And that's fine too.
I enjoy a cocktail or beer when I'm out with friends, but I can easily enjoy a tonic water with a lemon wedge too and still have as much fun as anyone. Beer will just hang around a little longer. But if DA Bears or DA Bulls are on my TV. Then "a" nice cold "one" will be just fine!

It is released. The new Blog is here. This is an early post because it is only Saturday and generally I update the site for release on Mondays. But this is a new day, and I want the site to be more interactive. I want to hear from you also. Share your kitchen tricks, triumphs, and tragedies. It's sometimes difficult to open up and share but it can be fun too. I want to keep this space a cool as jazz and comfortably safe for all who venture here.

A couple of weeks ago my cousin Steven Robinson, who is a member on the Vman Homeboycooking FaceBook page started a new life style of going refined sugar free. I applaud his newly found lifestyle and he has inspired me. Back in September I decided to also take a step toward limiting the refined sugar in my diet. For one month I deliberately and strictly limited fruit juice, baked sweets, breads, rice, pasta, sugar, and sugar substitutes from my diet, and added more lean protein and leafy vegetables. As far as physical activity, I have tried to swim three times a week for at least one hour each of those days. My results have pleasantly been manifested in more restful sleep, greater energy during the day, and some weight loss which helps clothing fit and feel much better. I am sharing the before and after images of my scale readings below.  

But, I am no longer just interested in what the scale says. I am now on a mission to increase my fitness and reduce body fat by promoting protein.  As I proceed I will let you know how things are going. I am in no way training for a marathon or any particular event, but I want to improve mobility and general fitness. I have been sleeping with a C-PAP for three years now and I want to eliminate that appliance as soon as possible. Muscle tone will help relieve the apnea.