Blood pressure, B-vitamins and less me!

Hi,

I've not taken my blood pressure for a while and since it has been an issue when I've not specifically been "doing something" for it, like apple cider vinegar, it has tended to be a bit high. I'm excited to report that I took it night before last and got a reading equal to my previous "lowest reading" I had posted in my blog -- 137/74. I was pleased! It's not "perfect," but is most definitely acceptable and not needing meds. Woo Hoo!! All I can attribute it to is this adrenal program I'm on, specifically thinking of the sublingual B-complex.

Also, I've not really lost any weight this month. It's been discouraging since I am on a "diet." I know the diet is not for the purpose of weight loss, rather to heal my adrenals, but I was hoping that would be a side effect! Last week I started wondering if things weren't maybe moving around, ie. inches lost. I nearly lost my pants at the store because of carrying things in my pockets. I had to give my stuff to my daughter. Then, I tried to wear a shirt yesterday that had previously fit, and it was too big. I weighed myself and have not lost anything significant since I started. I measured -- I've lost 2" pretty evenly distributed. That makes a total of almost 6" since starting, with no discernable weight lost! I've always said the scale was a cheat and a liar!

I'm going to do a "Three Day" diet with my friends hoping to straighten out their body clocks and help my own sleep pattern. We are going to only eat meat, green veggies, nuts, a little sour cream in the form of dip, pork rinds, salad dressing, butter or oil for the veggies and beans (dry legumes.) I'm also going to continue my "green drink" and my supplements. After the three days, then we will add some fruit and see how we feel. I'm hoping to get to where I do not need a nap at all, eventually.

Oh, and I've discovered that my Flax Cereal recipe (in my books) makes up quite nicely just by adding boiling water rather than putting it into the microwave. So easy!

Blessings,

Sharron

Low Carb Flax Chocolate Chip Cookies

These are kind of a prescription in a cookie. They have flax with all its wonderful essential fatty acids and fiber, almonds with their heart-healthy fats, too, and fiber, soy protein, molasses...

Here's a quote about molasses from the World's Healthiest Foods site:

Blackstrap molasses is an excellent source of manganese and copper. It is a very good source of iron, calcium, potassium and magnesium. In addition, blackstrap molasses is a good source of vitamin B6 and selenium.

SteviaPlus with its fiber and blood sugar stabilizing properties, agave nectar that's sweet but doesn't raise the blood sugar, walnuts ...

Here we go!

Low Carb Flax Chocolate Chip Cookies

This is NOT a gluten free recipe
Makes 16 cookies

Pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Combine the following ingredients in a bowl and set them aside:

3/4 cup flax seeds, ground to 1 1/2 cups or 1 1/2 cups flaxmeal

1 cup finely ground almonds

1 cup soy protein isolate

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

2 tablespoons SteviaPlus

In a mixing bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the following until they are light and fluffy, about two minutes:

1 tablespoon molasses

3 tablespoons agave nectar

3/4 cup butter, softened

Add

2 eggs

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

and beat for another minute, until they are well beaten.

Gradually add on low speed until they are well combined:

1 cup dark chocolate chips*

1/2 cup broken walnut meats

Using a 1/4 cup measure or a scoop, scoop out the cookies and place them on a parchment lined baking sheet. They do not spread out, so you can put quite a few on a pan. Press the tops down so that the cookies are as flat as you want them to be when they are done, about 1/2" thick. Bake them for about 10 minutes and remove them to paper towels to cool immediately. Store tightly covered.

I no longer have a program with which to figure nutritional info, but because these are so fiber-dense, the actual carb count on these babies is going to be pretty low.

*Note about the chocolate. You could use artificially sweetened chocolate and break it up into chips, however, my goal here was to keep everything all-natural. The chips I use are dark chocolate with 73% cocoa. Their carb count is actually pretty low, though I don't remember what it is. You could also decrease the chocolate by 1/2 and double the nuts for even fewer carbs, but still a very yummy treat.

My kids and I enjoyed them, I hope you do, too!

Stuff & continuing to improve...

Hi,

I'm continuing to improve health-wise. I'm completely off all pain medication -- even over the counter naproxen. I've not taken any for almost a week, and the only reason I did then was because I saw the chiropractor! Kind of ironic, eh? I'm generally having more energy. Sleep is so-so. I think maybe the naproxen might have been some of my sleep problem. Since I went off it, I'm regularly sleeping 2 to 3 hour stretches rather than 45 minute to 1 1/4. I'd sure like a more normal sleep pattern, though. I still might be eating too many carbs.

Aaron is improving. We can sure tell when he's had too many carbs! He has trouble sleeping and is wild.

I'm experimenting with a sugar-free cookie recipe for us right now. If it works, I'll post it. If not, then forget I mentioned it!! :)

Blessings,

Sharron