Lifestyle change {Skintervention}

{ You never know until you try. You might surprise yourself and end up liking it } - me.


.. this is my thought about a lot of things. Be open minded about different ideas and thoughts. It might seem weird or strange or ridiculous, but who knows... it might end up being better and could totally change you!

So here we go - the start of my lifestyle change....


I used to think that taking care of yourself was selfish and that taking a few extra minutes to get ready was frivolous and a waste. I still mostly think it is and will never be the type to 'get red carpet ready' everyday. I'm just not that girl. Maybe it's laziness -- yeah, it's mostly laziness. Also make-up and beauty products are expensive and I'm kind of cheap. I also didn't grow up around it -- we are all kind of boys in my family!

However, I've been learning that taking care of 'you', is beneficial to those around you as well (and therefore not all that selfish). Because when you feel better, you are able to do more and are able to focus more on others instead of on yourself. Make sense? No? Well here's my thought. If you feel good, then you're not focused on trying to feel better. If you are well rested and are eating healthy your brain/body isn't focused on sleep or nutrition. If you look good, hair and skin glowing, decent outfit, you'll have more confidence, be more outgoing and will reach out to those around you. So take care of yourself, for the sake of your friends and family and EVERYONE around you! Also let's be real. No one likes being around some who just plain... well.... smells!



RESOURCES:

So, what has brought about this shift? -- this lifestyle change and way at looking at health? This book -- Skintervention by Liz Wolfe - Recommended by my friend Trevor (aka Nutrithor). This book has changed my thinking (and I think it's safe to say it (although it's only been a few weeks)--- MY LIFE)! It's helped me cut out a bunch of 'crap' and become much more 'natural' and maybe even a little bit hippie! (Here comes the judgement!) However, I'm loving my new lifestyle :) Seriously, if you want to read a good book that will help solve your problems (acne, digestion, stomach aches, food addictions, food intolerances etc) READ THIS BOOK! (fyi guys -- there's a couple pages that only pertain to women). But most of it's for everyone: Nutrition, digestion and skin care! 



What's the first step? (or at least what was my first step?!)
Coconut Oil.

I was introduced to this stuff by Trevor. He taught me that coconut oil is a cure all, many use product. Of course it's used for cooking but another use is for your skin. So, I'll cook my meat in it and then after I shower take a spoonful and rub it all over my body. Cooking oil on your body? Yes, I laughed at him and yes, I was skeptical at first but literally after 2 times of rubbing it on, I noticed a huge difference. My skin looked and felt better. It was almost glowing. I also use it as a face wash/moisturizer now, with no other products and my acne has cleared up tremendously (in a few weeks)! Coconut oil guys, seriously it has changed my life! 

FYI: The coconut oil is clear in this picture, but when it get's cold it gets solid and more of a white color. 



The only bad thing about coconut oil is... my entire apartment is kind of covered in coconut oil! Because I put it on my hands and feet.. oops. I also sort of smell like the tropics - all the time. (which isn't a bad thing - I don't think!) Other than that, it's liquid gold!!


In the past...

I have tried many 'diets' (I hate that word and before you get your panties all up in a bunch. No, I don't think I'm fat and don't think I NEED to lose a lot of weight). However, I do think I need to eat right and eat what my body needs and wants and get in better shape. I have had trouble with intolerances to eggs and milk products. I have tried staying away from those things for a couple of years now, which I have felt better - but still on days when I thought I ate so well, my insides would feel like they were being torn out or twisted by Hulk himself and I'd bloat up like a balloon. It began to be the norm. I seriously thought that hurting after eating was normal. But come to find out, it's not. And I have had to retrain myself to realize I can eat and not hurt and I don't have to be in pain to be full.

So, here's a 'before/after' - Left was me in Europe (summer 2011 -- the heaviest I've been at 160ish pounds) and on the right is me today (Summer 2013) - no idea how much I weigh. But I don't think it's about weight really - it's more how you look and FEEL! (maybe you can see a difference?) I  can feel a difference, that's for sure. Summer 2011, I mostly ate wheat.. (because duh Europe kind of has the best breads/pizzas like ever) and I've cut that all out (bread, pasta, pizza, wheat) now for the past month, yes - even rice and corn and a few other things that are maybe considered 'healthy'. 










What was I eating a few weeks ago?

I was eating oatmeal for breakfast with some fruit. Rice and soup and kimchi and whatever else they served me for lunch. Then usually more rice and some sort of veggie and/or maybe some 'fake' meat for dinner with an apple and peanut butter for dessert. Or if I ate out I would eat fried chicken or pizza or Indian or kimbap or dok mondu kuk (soup) and then eat Baskin Robbins ice cream after! Really, I have never eaten all that horribly. (besides some ice cream (or a lot) and of course the normal amount of carby things). I don't like candy or junk food and find total joy in eating fruits and veggies (like for real I do). So most people think I'm 'super' healthy, but I wasn't and I couldn't understand what was going on.

Until.. I learned the truth about gluten and soy!

So, after talking to my friend about my intolerances and many health problems, he told me point blank - gluten and soy are the devil! Um, ok bold statement bro. How can a huge food group be so bad?

Well, it just is! But here's a bit of an explanation (from Liz Wolfe's book Skintervention) - Wheat (bread, pasta, flour, crackers) are known to cause inflammation in your gut and they 'steal' nutrients from your body (just like refined sugars: brown sugar, syrups, high fructose corn syrup etc). She recommends ditching all processed foods (processed sugar, soy and soy products, even whole grains: wheat, corn, rice and oats!) 'Whole grain' is a myth that the companies like to hide under! (she says). 

So, I am trying it. I feel like the best way to see if it's true, is to just DO IT! So, I cut out gluten/grains/oats, etc. I no longer eat oatmeal every morning and rice is out as well as soy. I have been trying to eat less fruit and sugar as well.

Here's a cool thing:
FAT DOESN'T MAKE YOU FAT!

This might seem obvious to some - but I'll be honest I had no idea. I mean in my little brain it made sense that fat would make you fat. But, hello - it doesn't. The correct fat is highly necessary and very good for you! I learned (from Trevor) that saturated fat is good for you and necessary and that trans fat is horrible! SOOO BRING ON THE BACON! Guys, I <3 bacon again. Go Bacon!


So, what DO I eat now?

Meat and veggies. (a paleolithic diet - basically a primal way of eating, like we used to back in the 'old days'). I guess our bodies have not developed as quickly and we are not yet made to process 'modern foods'. We are just simply not made to handle as much gluten and grains and processed food as what we eat! Now I'm not perfect and don't follow this to a T, but I'm trying! If you ask my friends here in Korea what I can eat - they would say NOTHING. It drives them crazy trying to find a place to eat where I can eat something, anything on the menu. However, I find I can eat many things - just not usually what other people want to eat or what they serve in most restaurants, which is why I cook at home for most meals!

I have also been introducing lactose back into my diet (yogurts mostly and of course some ice cream - oh wait I never really cut that out!) and my stomach has been handling it just fine. I just tried some whole (quail!?) eggs the other day. They were little and served at school, so I decided why not. I seriously kind of gagged while eating them because if you haven't noticed eggs have a specific texture and I haven't had a hard boil egg in well maybe like ..... well years. It's been a while! So, it was strange -- but to my surprise no immediate pain. I am still not super brave with eggs, but soon I think. The whites usually cause the intolerance. So I might try just eating the yoke - which are the best part for you anyway (Trevor). Interesting.













How do I feel?

Guys, I'll tell you what. I feel so much better. So much. I can't believe it. I am no longer bloated after I eat. I don't hurt. My stomach is flatter. I don't get winded after climbing the small hill to my house. I am not as tired all the time and I'm even sleeping less. My allergies have not been horrible this spring/summer. My acid reflux has calmed down. (And as you saw in the picture above) -- I have lost some weight! If my sister can notice, then it's for sure noticeable!


When I do eat rice/grains? What happens?

I just had sushi the other day, which I love! It has rice, but I make exceptions for good things like this. But how did I feel? Horrible. Soon after I ate a roll, with rice my stomach was in a knot, screaming at me to stop. I didn't because I'm used to ignoring the pain. But I realized how important it is that we listen to these signs and listen to our bodies. Our bodies talk to us and we shouldn't ignore it!

But.. dang it, sushi is sooooo good. So, sometimes I might just eat some - and eat a little white rice (apparently the least of the evils out of the grains - according to Trevor).









Also... I am kind of hippie. (if the rest of it wasn't all that 'hippie' sounding - this for sure will be!!)
How?

...I don't use shampoo and conditioner anymore. I was told by my littlest sister (she's 13) that I should probably keep this a secret and not tell people. But I'm too happy about it that I HAVE to share!! So.... now I use good old baking soda as 'shampoo' and apple cider vinegar as 'conditioner'. (Thanks to Liz Wolfe and Skintervention) Yup. I just take 2 tablespoons of baking soda and mix it with about 2 cups of water, dump it on my head, rub my scalp, rinse. Then 2 tbsp of ACV and 2 cups of water, dump, rinse immediately. That's it.. I've been doing it for about 10 days now and look my hair isn't that gross right?? (it's still transitioning, so it feels a little weird, but hopefully it will feel more normal in the next week!!) And look.. it doesn't look nasty, greasy! 








There's so much more for me to learn and do. I'm trying to get more natural and cut out all the 'products' in my life. The media sure does a great job of thinking we can't live without IT... without EVERYTHING!! But truth is, we totally can, and it's not only cheaper to do without and go the more natural way, but it's better for our body and better for the environment. 


What am I doing for a workout?

Well if you know me at all, I'm not a runner. Never have been and probably never will be. I literally got last in every track meet in middle school and when asked by my coach once to run an 800 (2 WHOLE TIMES AROUND THE TRACK) I refused. She was not pleased, but I didn't care and she never asked me again! So... running is out. I'm also not a gym goer, a bit too lazy for that and too cheap. So instead I've found a couple Pilates videos on youtube so I do that. I also found a 4 minute workout (totally my kind of thing). Besides that I do some extra push-ups. I've been impressing my kids with my arm muscles and just today one of my 2nd graders ran out of my office screaming after I pulled out my 'guns'!! Impressing my Korean students: Priceless!



SO WHY NOT??!!? 

Why not at least try it? Seriously, ask yourself what you have to lose!? As yourself why not try it? Are you lazy? (lazy gets you nowhere - literally) Are you scared of change? (don't be. change is life and life is change). Are you scared of what people with think? Yeah? Well, I used to be too, but you know what it's your life and people will always judge and say mean things. I've dealt with it a lot throughout my life and I bet you have too. Haters are going to hate, but I'm over that. And you all should be too! Do what's right and good for you and who cares what others think!! (ok, end of soap box rant.) 


So give it a try, or at least educate yourself. After I learn something, anything, I kind of want to go back to being ignorant, because it seems 'easier' to just not know. For example: I took an environment class -- I now get super worked up and want to yell at people who waste water - watering/washing the cement and people who waste electricity/energy! After learning a few things about nutrition, I just can't look at a piece of bread the same! After traveling the world and learning a lot about other cultures and different races, I can't stand people who judge and who are racists. I learn all sides, I take with me what's important, change a little here and there and a lot in some ways and it's great. The more open minded and accepting you are, the easier change will be! 

Do yourself a favor, educate yourself, be a little selfish for once. We are all so worried about 'being selfish' but you know what, do something nice for yourself and give yourself a pat on the back every once in awhile because you probably deserve it! Your happiness and well being affects those around you, so you really are being quite unselfish by helping yourself out :)

So if you are having problems, or you're not but you want to get healthier or maybe you just want to learn a different side of the story -- buy the book - Skintervention. (it's less than 40 bucks and you can get it instantly on your computer or iPad or whatever!) It's really a life changer.. no scam I promise :) Or, you can also ask my friend or you can ask me, I'll try to help or I'll most likely just ask my friend. None of this is a secret and I'm excited to share or to help people out as best I can! 

Here's an example: A Korean friend here (who after describing my symptoms - bloated, stomach pain etc) she said ME TOO!! I told her to try only eating meat, veggies and some fruit and to cut the rest out. 5 days later she told me 'I feel so much better, thank you' and gave me a huge hug!! It's for real guys :)


Final thoughts:

It's only been about a month maybe and I already know that this is worthwhile! However, it's not easy. If you think I don't walk by a pizza restaurant and think to myself... man that looks good - you're crazy. But I tell you what, I don't really crave, crave it and when I do look at it my body screams -- NOOOO please don't!! And I think about the pain it would cause me and I put the slice down, I don't take the rice (even though I get glares from my ENTIRE school and so many questions.. pap? an-ne-yo? Rice? no?) and I don't buy cereal or oatmeal - even though they were my favorite. I don't do it to 'punish myself' or to 'lose a ton of weight' -- I do it because I feel so much better and I have no more pain and that's why it's worth it! So, there ya go. JUST DO IT. Or at least try it. It doesn't hurt to try. It never hurts to try... try something new, try something hard. It's not until we are challenged that we realize our full potential. I've got faith in you! DO IT!


If you only do one thing -- use coconut oil. DO IT! and then tell me how it's changed your life too! :)

Thanks for reading, I'll keep you'll updated. And if you think I'm crazy, it's ok! I am a little crazy, but aren't we all? (take the next picture/comment for example!) :)

and since I feel so much better and look a little
better too.. I now have a boyfriend, Kevin!
Huzzah for finding a tall man with a nice body
in Korea :) He's a really great listener!
However, he's pretty committed to his
job and is unable to hang out with me! :(
But it's ok... our relationship is pretty rock solid!