Beehive Tested, Doctor Approved

I asked my Doctor today what she thought about the Neti Pot and she highly recommended it. Actually she was in awe over how some users could in fact reach all of their sinus cavities. Usually she would just suggest a saline spray, but this was a cheaper alternative as you just mix up your own salt and water at home.

It is totally funny looking, and though the thought still gives me a bit of the hiney cringe, I still love it. I may be addicted to using the Neti Pot. I can breathe AND smell better. Too bad for DG as I have decided to alter his diet drastically *wink*.

The Neti Pot

DGs friend Erica came over for breakfast last weekend. Erica is a free spirit and has the ability to make you think outside of the box and we always end up having great discussions when she is around.

Last week-end, she convinced me that I needed a Neti Pot. Before I tell you what a Neti Pot is, go here to watch this video instruction of how it works. Warning: This is not an SNL skit. Watching this video may make you sneeze or scrunch up your nose in horror.

I have had sinus issues my whole life and for the past week I have had some problems. So even though Erica's description included phrases such as, "I'm not going to lie to you, it burns" and "You put this thing up your nose and pour fluid in so it comes out your other nostril" I decided to do it anyway. You buy the pot above, fill it with warm water and 1/4 tsp. of non-iodized salt. Then you put the spout up your nostril, tilt your head, and bottoms up. It is totally creepy at first, but after a few times, it is like riding a bike.

I have used it for 3 days in a row, and though it has not fixed my original problem it has helped to clean me out and moisten my sinus cavity. I will be asking my doctor tomorrow about it. Stay tuned!

Dieting 101

Eat less food.

Between cake night and 2 weeks of honeymooning, I gained a few extra pounds after the wedding. Now 4 lbs. is not a lot, however try picking up a 5lb. bag of sugar and imagine carrying that extra weight on your body all day. I also have a propensity to gain 10-20lbs during the winter because I hibernate and I am less active. And while I am stuck in the house, I like to bake cookies, cakes, and trays of brownies. All in all, I am trying to end the trend.

Now there are 2 thoughts on weight loss. There is the Weight Watchers, eat right, count your points, and lose the weight slowly over time, and then there is Slim 4 Life, eat less now, and lose it faster. I myself prefer the fast results so a week and a half ago I went back to my Slim 4 Life diet. Day 1-3 gets your body ready for losing weight fast.

The Diet for days 1-3 consists of:
2 eggs
1 orange
unlimited lean meat (chicken, fish, white meat turkey, red meat)
unlimited raw green vegetables
2 TBL fat free salad dressing
2 C coffee
morton lite salt

Doesn't sound like a lot of food does it? Well it is not, but doing it this time was much easier than doing it the first time, because my stomach has shrunk from a year ago. I think I went through 3 green peppers and an entire stalk of celery. The hardest part is that your body goes through carb withdrawal.

After that, I began the regulatory diet consisting each day of:
2 lean meats
2 vegetables
2 fruits
2 carbs
2 TBL fat free salad dressing
2 Slim 4 Life Supplement (I like their energy bars, pretzels, and hot chocolate)

No dairy, fat, oil, butter, or condiments. There is a list of everything I am allowed to each for each of the above. For example, carbs consist of 1 slice of diet bread, 2 akmak crackers, 1/2 small potato, or a salt free rice cake. Likewise fruit portions are 10 green grapes, 3/4 C pineapple, 1 small apple etc.

Well let's just say that I've lost 5lbs. in 11 days and my pants better. woo hoo, my stomach is flat again.