Being Fashionable is not just about aesthetics but about health

Being Fashionable is not just about aesthetics but about health

As everyone know I am the resident fashion and beauty queen here at BB&W and although I love everything beauty and fashion, I want to address another side of the industry, health.

Author : Tanisha Shulamit

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As everyone know I am the resident fashion and beauty queen here at BB&W and although I love everything beauty and fashion, I want to address another side of the industry, health.

Being fashionable is just not about the cute trendy and classic style or having flawless skin but it instead begins from the inside out, like the old adage, “If you are beautiful on the inside, it will radiate on the outside.” No truer words have been spoken.

 

Kicking my sugar devil:

Recently, because of depleted Vitamin D, Vit B and Iron levels,  I was diagnosed with a gluten allergy, in fact Celiac’s. This means I have a major sensitivity to gluten and wheat. I cannot eat bread or pasta and some rice without my body becoming a bloated gas fest. It isn’t pretty. I have been slowly but surely alleviating gluten, wheat and certain grains from my diet however I have become addicted to another demon, sugar.

 

 

Oh sugar.. It’s so decadent, so sweet, so sensual and alluring. It calls to me, whispers to me when I am sleeping, seduces me to eat it all day. It loves me, I know it does. Sigh sugar… Is an abusive lover who takes and takes until it kills you. Yes, I know its alluring, its seductive, it tastes good but it is the devil. It causes all sorts of diseases including diabetes, candida, high cholesterol and obesity.**Side Note** an undiagnosed gluten allergy or Celiac’s disease can also lead to these things.

 

I was recently diagnosed being borderline diabetic. I am only 30lbs overweight which has been mostly caused by depression from living in Houston, I hate it here. This causes me to eat things that are bad for me, like fried chicken and SWEETS. Mind you, I don’t even like sugar or sweets but I have been eating it like crazy. My saying good-bye to gluten has caused my body to go into sugar overdrive and the headaches, the sluggishness and the sleepiness has caused me to say enough is enough. My doctor basically told me that all I have to lose is 20lbs and the that borderline diabetes will disappear forever.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFgmQ-kUy1k]

So I have decided to join Jennifer Fugos 3 week Sugar Cleanse. We have no idea how much sugar is in our everyday diet. In fact, the first thing that I have learned is that 4 grams of sugar equals 1 teaspoon of sugar. We basically consume on average about 22 teaspoons of sugar a day. THAT’S A LOT OF SUGAR!! No wonder most of us suffer from sugar addiction. I commend Christelyn for being on her sugar cleanse these last few months and I am jumping in on it.

 

Jennifer Fugo is a well known gluten and sugar expert, yoga instructor and fellow Aries like myself, with whom I have worked with before–she helped me lose 40lbs in 4 months by helping me change my diet. And if you are as adamant about your health as I am, you should go over to Jen’s Gluten Free School and sign up for her classes. The current Sugar Cleanse course that I am participating in  has a $250 value but you pay $57.. However, it is full. I know, I know, she has the courses often so don’t worry, you will be able to sign up soon. They fill up fast. However until then, you can sign up for her other courses and get your life back on track. I highly recommend her.

 

The Sugar Cleanse Course consists of:

3 50-minute tele-classes on the dangers of sugar & how to rid it from your life   ($75 value)

Gluten-Free Recipe Guide with a meal plan so you can easily follow along   ($125 value)

Email support with Jennifer during the cleanse   ($50 value)

** Access to all tele-class recordings in case you miss the LIVE classes!! **

Optional **upgrade** – Individual 30-minute one-on-one phone sessions during cleanse

And most importantly, support throughout the process of you breaking your habit.

 

So, once and for all, I am kicking out my abusive lover and getting some much needed therapy. I am saying good-bye to those sleepless nights, attacks of guilt and fear of walking into the store and being accosted in public, and I am saying hello to my future, to my health, and to my beauty. I will definitely be in fashion this summer and fall because I will be the best me I can be.

 

Here’s the fun part: I will be chronicling my 3 week progress, right here on BB&W. I won’t give you all the details of course but you will get to see my weight loss, my mental and physical progress and some of the meals that I will prepare. I hope that as you observe and oft times participate in my process that you yourself will begin yours.

 

Here’s to happy and healthy and very fashionable beginnings. Be on the look out for another post from me today. Toodles.

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MixedUpInVegas 1692 pts

Tanisha, I wish you the best possible outcome.  I know you will do well because it is about your life, your health and your ability to function better in day-to-day activities.  Those things are more important than cupcakes.  Soon, your efforts will become good habits that will stay with you.

 

Live long and prosper!

MZ Elf 2745 pts

These posts are lifelines for me. They keep me focused on for sharingbeing the best me. Thank you for sharing your struggles, plans of attack and the outcomes to keep us all striving for our best!

SirLoinDeBeef 2667 pts

Consider baking your own bread ... my bread machine has about a dozen recipes for gluten-free bread and baked goods ... where you KNOW for sure what was in the product you eat ... egg as a substitute for gluten (binder) ... don't forget the baking-soda 'breads'.

Shulamit 1986 pts

 SirLoinDeBeef Oh no. I have been doing that but failed miserably. I plan to buy a bread maker so that I can in the future, but I want to learn how to make my bread without the maker. I tried a no-knead recipe #EpicFail but I will try again :-)

Brenda55 21014 pts moderator

ShulamitSirLoinDeBeef

Just a suggestion.  Check your location. Relative  humidity and altitude makes a difference in bread performance. You may have to adjust the recipe you are using. 

 

 

Toni_M 20121 pts moderator

This sounds like an awesome idea.

Lejusdecoco 235 pts

Go for it Tanisha, Don't give up, it is hard process be patient. Sugar is indeed addictive, when I don't consume it, it gives me headaches. I now use honey for my tea and I don't add any sugar to my smoothies. Now I just want to find something to add to my oatmeal, I don't like it bland.

Can't wait to see the progress!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shulamit 1986 pts

 Lejusdecoco Try Stevia instead. Its awesome. Don't use sugar for the oatmeal, instead top it with nuts and berries. the berries will sweeten it enough

Lejusdecoco 235 pts

 Shulamit oooo sounds good, thanks a lot!

Brenda55 21014 pts moderator

 Lejusdecoco

 

 

You can try this on your oatmeal.

 

 http://www.artisantable.com/granulated-honey/p/WAP24070/

SirLoinDeBeef 2667 pts

 Brenda55 Powdered buzzzzzzzzz ...

The Working Home Keeper 7008 pts

 Lejusdecoco Honey is good on oatmeal! 

Ms. Kay 428 pts

Good for you Tanisha!!!. My vice is cinnamon bun (drooling...lol), but I do notice if and when I give in and have one, my system turns upside down and cause a havoc, gassy, bloating, horrible taste in my mouth. So what have I done. I said goodbye to cinnamon bun. I can actually walk in the mall, smell the buns in the store and continue on about my bizness. #willpower. So sugar is BAD. say no to Sugar. Omg I sound like that commercial "say no to drugs"...lol!!!

 

Can't wait to see your progress!!

This comment has been deleted
Shulamit 1986 pts

 Matrix12 that is a very true statement

oekmama 1047 pts

Thank you for sharing.

What is holding you in Texas if you don't wanna be there?

 

Maybe you wanna look at that low-carb thing that Chris is doing?

Shulamit 1986 pts

 oekmama No my cleanse is going to have to be specific and I trust the person I am doing the cleanse under. I trust her expertise. That of course isn't saying Chris doesn't know what she is doing but this person is an expert in the subject.

 

Oh I am working leaving Texas but at the moment, MONEY.. lol

Lejusdecoco 235 pts

 Shulamit Yes, I wanted to ask you that about Texas. Please leave, I know its easier said than done but if its affecting your health that much Run!  I will pray you get enough money to get out. Love ya!

grrlysquirrel75 1121 pts

Major props to you, Tanisha! I've got much love for the sweets, and when I'm having trouble with my weight-loss I know it's because of that love. I've been doing the Weight Watchers program for about three and a half years. I used to weigh 220lbs and there's a history of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and high cholesterol in my family. Surprise, surprise, right? I take two types of blood pressure medication although I've lost a significant amount of weight. Thankfully I've never had any issues with my cholesterol or blood sugar. Aside from having high blood pressure, I'm in perfect health. Although I don't plan to give up sugar, I am taking steps to have less sweets around to tempt me.

 

I totally understand about you gaining weight from being depressed. I'm an emotional eater and suffer from clinical depression. Food is an easy way to self-medicate. I think there are many of us in the black community who self-medicate with food. For those that think people are overweight because they want to be, or because they have no self-control, I will pretty much bet my bottom dollar it goes much, much deeper for many. Yeah, there are those of us that keep eating although we know we should stop, but damn it, food tastes good! And there are pleasure centers in the brain that are stimulated by the taste of the food we keep putting in our mouths, thus the self-medication. The key is to eat enough to sustain our bodies, and find some other activity or action that can stimulate those pleasure centers.

Shulamit 1986 pts

 grrlysquirrel75 Mine is yoga! lol. I absolutely love it and can't wait to start it up again.. sigh.. longggg sigh.... But i never overeat. in fact i hardly eat. my problem is that when i do eat, i eat bad things. now mind you before i went gluten-free. i rarely craved sweets in the form of cookies etc. afterwards,  holy smokes! yeah not good. so this cleanse is indeed needed. fun part, i get to binge before sunday. hahhaahh..

grrlysquirrel75 1121 pts

 Shulamit Funny you should mention yoga. I'm currently in training to become a yoga instructor. Learning the philosophy behind yoga is helping me to bring many aspects of my life into focus. Do the damn thing, girl!

Shulamit 1986 pts

 grrlysquirrel75 Yoga rocks!

grrlysquirrel75 1121 pts

 Shulamit My goal once I become an instructor is to show more people in the black community that yoga rocks :-).

Karla 19183 pts

 grrlysquirrel75 Please do.  Currently, I am the only BW in my yoga classes and when I talk about it to my BW GFs, they look at me with that "that's a WW thing" look.

Christelyn 9256 pts moderator

 Karla  grrlysquirrel75 I am a yoga FANATIC (as you all know) haven't had the time lately, but I'll be back with more instructional videos with yoga at the center of it. I wish more BW knew how good it was for the body, mind and spirit.

grrlysquirrel75 1121 pts

 Christelyn  Karla I've done workstudy at the studio that I go to (signing people in, taking money), and I've only ever seen two other bw taking class there. Many bw see it as a ww thing because of the stereotypes perpetuated in the media of tall, skinny, tan ww in tight exercise clothes heading to yoga class. Don't even get me started on those damn Lululemon Athletica yoga clothes! They go against everything that yoga philosophy is teaching me. I want the bw in the Boston area to know that yoga is very inclusive and has many mental, physical, and spiritual benefits.

Toni_M 20121 pts moderator

 Karla  grrlysquirrel75 I am trying and failing to wrap my mind around that. O_o WTF?

m008 147 pts

 Karla  grrlysquirrel75 Tell them there are BW yoginis in Manhattan and Brooklyn.   I remember living in Boston - folks can get kind of ... funny ... about what they do and don't consider "identity markers".

 

Trying to get "us" into Pilates class is also kind of tricky.  I had a discussion with a teacher of color about that ... and she was the one who brought it up.

Toni_M 20121 pts moderator

 Shulamit  grrlysquirrel75 Cool! :D I've been doing yoga for the past few months now and I absolute love it. It is so calming and relaxing to me that a couple times I've almost gone to sleep! Unfortunately the positions I was in made this a very bad idea. :S

 

 

Shulamit 1986 pts

 Toni_M  grrlysquirrel75 i have fallen asleep in sleep pose at the end. when we are lying there relaxing before namaste. fell right to sleep and didn't even know it :-)

grrlysquirrel75 1121 pts

 Shulamit Toni_M There has been many a time when I've heard folks snoring during savasana. It's just so relaxing!

KfromVA 335 pts

I've tried to give up sugar and I can for a few weeks but once I slip up and eat just one thing that has sugar in it I can't stop. My body craves it after that.

Karla 19183 pts

 KfromVA I just read this in my email this morning: http://www.nature.com/oby/journal/v10/n6/abs/oby200266a.html.  The upshot of it is this: repeated, excessive intake of sugar created a state in which an opioid antagonist caused behavioral and neurochemical signs of opioid withdrawal. The indices of anxiety and DA/ACh imbalance were qualitatively similar to withdrawal from morphine or nicotine, suggesting that the rats had become sugar-dependent.  Basically, this study is saying that sucrose causes a release of opioids.  Now, this may be refutable (and I'm sure the sugar consortium is working on it) but it makes sense.

Shulamit 1986 pts

 Karla  KfromVA  this is a true outcome. sugar is now being considered being labeled a drug or addictive substance in congress

KfromVA 335 pts

 Karla

 It definitely makes sense because the more sugar you have the more you want.

KfromVA 335 pts

 Karla

 I also know I'm evil as hell (feel sorry for my family) while trying to cut back and go cold turkey from sugar.

The Working Home Keeper 7008 pts

Good luck Tanisha!  You ladies are so inspiring. 

Karla 19183 pts

Good move!  I started a non-processed foods diet during Lent and have continued to do it.  My mantra is if I can't recreate it in my kitchen, I don't eat it.  I don't have a gluten allergy but I don't eat a lot of grains anyway.  If I do, I've got to make it.  If I want bread, got to make it from scratch.  If I want candy, got to make it from scratch.  I don't spend my money on processed anything, including flour (grind it myself) or cheese (make it myself) or drink cow's milk (make my own almond milk).  Just by doing that, I cut out tons of sodium and sugar, the two guilty parties in the word "processed".  It's been some work and I have to plan but I've seen that it can be done with some planning and organization.  I'm not a gardener but I'm trying square foot gardening this year with my BFF, who is.  She lives within walking distance of my house so we're going to have a fresh veggie fest.  I'm also taking canning classes at the local co-op extension.  I'm getting down to the pioneer bare bones and becoming self-sufficient.  Good luck on your quest and you've got my complete support.

The Working Home Keeper 7008 pts

 Karla Go Karla!  It gives me a real sense of pride when I make something from scratch in my kitchen.  I really need to work on my breadmaking and get back in the practice of soaking grains.

Shulamit 1986 pts

 Karla Karla, I have been doing the same thing the last two months except for the candy, milk and cheese part. I was buying almond milk, cheese and gluten free flour. However I decided two weeks ago that once I arrive to my new destination that I was going to do those things of myself because I wanted to take it back to our roots.. So I support you too. Thanks for the support,.

yvonnelee 195 pts

This post really tickled me. ‘gas fest’ Lol! All the foods you can’t eat I love (bread, pasta and especially rice). I do tend to have indigestion problems maybe it’s due to that lol! I’m not too bad with sugar. My problem is salt I put it in everything I cook even on my vegetables.

 

yvonnelee 195 pts

Wow! I’ve just been reading up on Gluten intolerance. I have 90% of the symptoms; fatigue, weight loss, mouth ulcers, stomach bloating and the ‘gas fest’ you described. Maybe I should get an gluten allergy test. Thank you for this post it may have helped me identify the root of my problems. 

Shulamit 1986 pts

 yvonnelee the bread, pasta and some grains of rice turn into SUGAR... its a part of the sugar addiction love..;-) get that test done... For me I had Weight Gain.. Sooo I was a mess... ugg.. but I am about to lose this weight now.. Look out, I's gon' be fyoine!! :-)

yvonnelee 195 pts

Oh dang your right it converts to sugar in the body. I tend to associate sugar with soda/ energy drinks which I omitted from my diet. Well, thank god most rice’s are gluten free. That’s the only one I would have major difficulty giving up. Good luck with your weight loss. Looking forward to your future post! :)

Shulamit 1986 pts

 yvonnelee most people do. i do eat nor drink those things.. lol... cookies. cookies are my crack/ gonna go buy some oreos right now. lol

Ndreea 75 pts

nice! def looking forward to the meals and the recipes behind them  :) 

p.s. goodluck!!!!!!!!!!!! ^^