Healthy Living July 2019

Along with breads, crackers, and couscous, gluten is often found in soups, cold cuts, ketchup, salad dressings, and a variety of other products, including beer. Vicki also studied foods that cause inflammation in the body and removed them from

her diet. These include sugar and high-fructose corn syrup, artificial trans fats, vegetable and seed oils, refined carbohydrates, and processed meats.

“I worked hard at replacing the things that were bad for me with things that are good for me and that I like,” Vicki says. “I didn’t even try the gluten-free breads or crackers because I felt it gave me too much temptation to go back to the real thing. For me, it wasn’t worth the calories and temptation. You still want it, but you can’t have it.”

Now, Vicki’s diet is primarily organic, clean foods. She no longer eats processed or canned foods. She enjoys salmon salad and is eating as plain and pure, and as “close to the earth,” as possible. She went one step further by removing all dairy products from her diet.

In the beginning, Vicki says much of her time was taken with food preparation. She wanted to be sure her meals were not only tasty but attractive so she’d enjoy them when she sat down to eat. Sitting down to a nice meal soothed her anger and helped her enjoy what she was eating.

“But that changed. I work five days a week, and I spend time with my kids on the weekends. I didn’t want all my time to be spent thinking about food,” she

says. “I found a way that works for me. I do a lot of snacking. I keep soup handy and I drink coconut milk.”

Vicki also noticed something else after carefully following her new food plan for a while: the gluten had been affecting her brain.

“I knew I needed to increase my protein, and I hated bacon. I know nobody ever says that, but I didn’t like bacon,” she says with a laugh. “But it’s easy to fix and I can eat it on the run. It provides the protein and the crunch I love.”

Vicki prepares most of her protein meals in her air fryer. “I can throw stuff in my air fryer and by the time I’m ready to go, my snack is ready to go, too.”

After 18 months of eating a new way, Vicki feels like a new person. “I’m so happy not to feel old anymore. It gives you so much hope for the future and the quality of your life, “ she says. “I don’t even notice that I don’t have those other foods now because I feel so much better.”

Where she used to come home and sit in a chair and sleep after work, she now stops on the way home for her yoga class and then goes home and stays busy, seldom sitting down.

“My energy level has increased so much, I feel I’m energized all day long.”

“In the beginning, it was awful. I loved bread, and I was in mourning. I was angry because I couldn’t eat bread, crackers, or anything with gluten in it, but as I continued to avoid these foods, I realized I was feeling better, and that was my incentive to keep doing it.”

BEFORE PHOTOS

Her physician’s words stunned her.

“I was very unhealthy; everything was attributed to my weight,” Angie says. “When my doctor said I couldn’t have kids, I realized this is pretty serious.”

She began working out and started following Weight Watchers. “I didn’t want to be stuck in the lifestyle of eating just chicken and broccoli,” she says.

Angie also posted her journey on Instagram to be accountable.

“The first six months, I just kind of Googled everything; I was just really determined. I was very motivated,” she says.

Her hard work in over 1½ years has paid off. Angie lost 100 pounds and has gone from a dress size 24 to size 9.

She aims to lose another 30 pounds.

“Losing weight has been worth it,” Angie says. “I don’t use a CPAC machine, I don’t have diabetes. My doctors are amazed.”

She’s grateful to have regulated her cycle, which makes the future more promising for Angie and her husband Andrew to have children.

Saving souls, and money

Clients in a ministry program learn money management skills to prepare them for the future.

Story: Theresa Campbell

AChristian ministry in Leesburg strives to equip homeless families and men and women in recovery from drugs and alcohol with tools they need to make it on their own, including being able to budget, manage expenses, and save money.

“We help them with long-term success,” says Bill Jones, executive director of the Christian Care Center (CCC), which comprises eight ministries, including the Men’s Residence and the Women’s Care Center, both for drug and alcohol recovery clients, and the Samaritan Inn, a shelter for homeless families.

“We have the opportunity of sharing and pouring into them information that they have never learned,” Bill says. “Many do not know the basics of saving, the basics of budgeting, or the basics of handling money.”

The clients reside at the CCC facilities on the campus of First Baptist Church of Leesburg, 220 N. 13th St., and they spend 34-36 hours a week in a variety of classes, including financial courses.

“Financial retraining is part of what we do for that long-term success,” Bill says, “because if they leave and they don’t have that information, they are going to wind up very similar to where they came from.”

Before homeless families can leave Samaritan Inn, they must save 30 percent of their take-home pay for housing and have funds in their savings account.

Volunteer Ron Sebree, 79, nicknamed “Money Ron,” teaches financial classes, including lessons on debt and borrowing, advises clients on how to create budgets, and prepares them for big purchases.

“I do a lesson on saving, and we’re saving money a little bit each week. You don’t want that to just pile up in checking; you want it to go to work for you,” Ron says. “What I am trying to do is prepare them to leave this safe haven and transition back into society.”

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TIPS FROM “MONEY RON” SEBREE

• Set up a budget.

• Look for sales.

• Grocery shop from a list.

• Resist impulse buying.

• Don’t spend more than you make.

• Save three to six months’ worth of living expenses as an emergency fund.

• Get a second job, if needed.

• Resist borrowing money.

• Plan for big purchases such as cars and vacations.

• Buy what you can afford and pay in cash.

ANGIE’S ‘BEFORE PANTS’

A healthy home is an extension of you

Colors, plants, and scents can change a room.

Story: Suzanne Hardaway and Denise Munn

Surroundings affect us more than we realize. Colors, textures, and aromas influence how we feel about ourselves and how we relate and engage with others. When our environment feels chaotic and overwhelmed, so do we. Our homes, therefore, become a reflection of us.

This thought may be daunting, but the exciting and freeing reality is making some small changes can completely transform the entire look and feel of a room, of a home, of you! When we choose to surround ourselves with colors, elements, and aromas that calm, relax, and revive, we extend those energies to others. Here are three easy concepts to keep in mind:

PAINT: COLOR AND BALANCE

Colors can relax, soothe, energize, and even evoke a range of emotions from happiness to rage. Blues and grays conjure feelings of calm, tranquility, and peace. For this reason, blue or gray is a popular choice for bedrooms and family rooms. Red is associated with passion and has been shown to stimulate conversation and appetites, which is why you’ll find shades of red in kitchens, but keep in mind that same color in a different shade might have different effects. For example, soft, warm yellows make people feel cheerful and energetic. When overused, though, bright primary yellow is shown to cause fatigue and anxiety. The key is finding the balance between warm and cool colors.

PLANTS: HEALTH AND DESIGN

In addition to improving the air quality of living spaces, house plants soothe and create an ambience and element of design that improves moods. Choose low-maintenance plants that require minimal watering and pruning. Orchids are sturdy, offer an elegant pop of color, and soothe the nerves with a fresh fragrance. Ferns have a delicate and lacy feel that creates a tropical and inviting feel. The fiddle-leaf fig is an extremely popular house plant because it provides an architecturally appealing element to the room with dark green tones and lines. Whatever your plant preference, these natural additions are helping you breathe easier and creating calm.

PURPOSEFULLY PERSONAL: SCENTS AND SENTIMENTAL

When you walk into a room, scents and sights can tell a story. For this reason, intentionally choose aromas and items you wish to reflect. Many people draw fond associations from vanilla scents and correlate citrus smells with cleanliness. Lavender and thyme are calming aromas, while peppermint is said to energize. Visually, what is displayed in a room also can articulate calm and reassurance. Stacks of papers and cluttered countertops and closets will make anyone feel stressed. Often, the task of decluttering and purging spaces can seem overwhelming. But remember, these choices ultimately change more than a room—they can change you. And, by extension, change others.

ABOUT THE WRITERS → Suzanne Hardaway and Denise Munn have offered a sophisticated eye for detail, form, and function since 2005 at Inspired Decor, 1134 E. North Blvd., in Leesburg.