Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Grace Unearned

Only those who, like me have stood in the enlightenment of their own inadequacies..
 Those who have earned every failure
  Those who, despite good intent
and those who have, like me, many times fallen to lesser motive
Those who have indulged vengeful thoughts
and in another turn done great deeds
and those who have seen themselves as a whole
often making mistakes and trying again
Those who still, inspite of all of this find themselves loved
Indescribably and beyond reason embraced,
Cherished! Even and because of our very humanness,
having utterly failed at earning even a kind word
Here we are loved.

  I have known no greater confusion than the extent and reach of love for even me.
and it is a cunning thing, this debt I owe.
No matter how I try to give it away, it comes back
the debt incurs and I am left with more debt of love.
So, should you, like me find yourself undeserving,
Do tolerate those of us to love anyway and because of your state
If I don't, I fear I may burst for too much love in me,
and in mercy, accept when we give,
because it may mean our own survival, and when
you find yourself in our place with this debt,

 I can tell you there is no freedom from it,
only momentary comforts when you may love another,
and it does not end, ever this Grace, your Grace,
and Thank you for this unearned Love you've given to me.
and Thank you, that you understand the sweet insanity of it,
That I need never make sense in Love,
and showing me it is the utmost of logic to let go
in not understanding what was too simple for me,
now become perfect sense,
wordless acts of Love best done
and Thank you for giving even one,
 like me the Grace
to give it away.

tina jones

Monday, July 23, 2012

Low Carb Grilled Cheese and Two Surprises!!!


I'm weak! He gives me puppy dog eyes. I give him Low Carb Love! hehe. A Grilled Cheese Sandwich at 2.4 Carbs, and you know what goes with that! 1Carb tomato soup?! PLUS! Did someone say Cheeseburger Bun? I thought someone mentioned a good bun...maybe it was just me. Grins!
  No limits allowed here! When you see how easy it is to have the sandwiches we used to love, you're home free! Think Cheese Steak, Ham and Cheese is great this way too, Turkey and Sauteed Mushrooms? From Sloppy Joe's to Chicken Cordon Bleu, from me to you, do be true, and do that thing you do, Low Carb! hehehe!
  Have fun with these!
  As always, to see full screen, and be sure and subscribe to my Youtube Channel.
tina jones


Here's my Update Video for July 23, 2012 too!

Sunday, July 22, 2012

How to Look Like Johnny Depp: Makeup Tutorial

Feeling the need for a Halloween idea?
How about a walk on the wild side? grins.
Here's my video: How to Look Like Johnny Depp: Makeup Tutorial
If you're in for a bit of piracy, add a bandana, a large earring and couple of, "Arrrrhgs!"
  To see this video full screen and to see my makeup list, go to my Youtube link here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K47hiObECEQ
  Do subscribe to keep updated!
 Wishing you much inspiration!
tina jones

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Low Carb: My Eight Tips for Getting Started

The first thing I do whenever I've gotten off track and gained some weight is plan a celebration!
 That's right. In the middle of feeling I've let myself down, feeling bloated from too many carbohydrates, feeling foggy, indigestion and everything that goes with eating high carb, I plan a celebration.
  I celebrate the beginning of a new lifestyle, right then and there! For me, regardless of how I may have eaten yesterday, this morning or this afternoon, that means beginning with a Low Carb Lifestyle, high fat, moderate protein, the stuff that gets me back on track and makes me feel good meal.
  In my case, I get a steak. This is no longer about depriving myself. This about treating me good and giving my body what it needs to heal again. I don't go for the 6oz. petite portion. No, I'm a full grown woman with a body that needs fats and proteins. I'm a "Twelve ounce Rib eye, well done please!" girl, myself, but yours may be Pork Chops, Roast, a hunk of Buttered Salmon. If you don't eat any meats, go for your favorite Tofu dish, but leave out any noodles, potatoes, and bread, and double up that protein. Add Almonds slivers and Avocado, drizzle with Olive oil, have fun! This is important. I have to treat myself like someone who deserves to be treated well, not later, not after I lose the weight, but here and now.

 Shortly after I consume this, my mind begins to clear, the indigestion subsides, and energy begins to return. Nothing gets me through those first three days or so better.
  I've heard it called, "The Carb Flu," where, for me more sleep is needed, more fat and more protein. What's happening is that the body is switching from burning High Carbs for energy that we've eaten, over to stored body fat for energy. Nature takes the easiest, straightest path, and when high carbs are consumed the quickest, easiest way for the body to get needed energy is to use the High Carb food. In the absence of these High Carb foods, the body moves to the next easy, quick, straight source of energy; Our stored body fat. This fat is easier and quicker to use for energy than the fat we will be eating. Subsequently, weight loss begins. During this "Carb Flu" time of transitioning to our bodies using stored fat, here is a list of things I do to help my body do what it does so well...Heal Itself.

 1. Celebrate the Start! Tonight or this afternoon, right now begin by celebrating. That means a good, nutritious low carb meal. It doesn't matter if you ate a dozen glazed doughnuts for breakfast, or went to the burger and fries joint for lunch. Tonight is the celebration. For me, it begins with a rib eye. We are starting a new lifestyle, for many like me a new life! We celebrate new lifes, births are a joyous occasion! smiles. We don't wait and see if the child does what we imagine they should before celebrating. The arrival day is here! This is a big occasion. Do not wait for some goal to celebrate. Do it now. This is very important, and you are worth it!

  2.Donate High Carb Foods to a food pantry if possible, if not throw them away. Many like me got hung up on not wanting to "waste" food, so we told ourselves we'd eat all of this high carb stuff, then start our journey to health. Rethink: When I put high carbs that have been hurting me along with causing weight gain, I am Wasting my body, my children's mother, my loved one's friend. I have no right to treat someone they love like I deserve that. To love them, I have to love me, and let the high carbs go. If I can find a food pantry a neighbor to take them that's fine, but they are not good for me.

3. I get more rest: No longer treating naps as a decadence, they are a matter of being true to me, so no self guilt trips allowed here. This is important. The body heals best at rest. What's more, when I had deprived myself of rest, as I often did on high carb diets, I had to eat more high carbs just to keep going. That is over. We need never do that again. This is the time to be gentle.

 4 .I drink more water: This helps me stay clear minded and flushes out toxins. What is great is that the consumption of meats and fats automatically causes me to want to drink more water, so I don't even try and it happens!

 5 .I incorporate one mug of Bullion a day: The reason is that most of the high carb processed foods I used to eat had enormous amounts of sodium, and that is gone. Cooking now, and often forgetting to use salt, I can get too low on sodium, and the amount in a mug of bullion is sufficient for a day to keep me feeling better and balanced.

  6. Give Myself an Area for My Foods: We deserve, as human beings, a space in our own lives. I designate at least one cabinet for low carb foods: This is my "Go to" for meals. This cabinet contains things like Tuna, Beef Jerky, Pork Rinds, Almonds, Canned Green Vegetables, cans of mushrooms, Jars of Salsa and any Low Carb Shelf foods. I know I'm safe opening that cabinet! I also designate an area of my refrigerator (Initially I lived with someone when I did this, but now I live alone, so the whole thing is mine! hehe). This area of the fridge is for the foods I know I can safely eat in a Low Carb Lifestyle.

7 . Plan Fast Foods: Rarely do I have to feel famished any more, as proteins and low carb take that away pretty quickly in the beginning, but I keep fast eats at the ready just incase. These will be things like a bowl of many boiled eggs, so I can grab one when needed. Cheese slices or Block cheese cut into one ounce chunks are a quick, tasty satisfiers too. Try some different kinds. Ten olives are another quick decadence for me, and a medium Dill Pickle is a must in my day! All of these choices are at or under 1 Carb, by the way! (So are ten Almonds!) In induction, I am allowed 20 carbs a day, and one to love *more* of any food I love, I keep these "at or under 1 carb" choices at the ready. I also usually keep a cook roast, chicken or several burgers at the ready. ZERO carbs there!

8 . The Car and Purse: I always have low carb snacks there. For me it's in the form of ten Almonds or Walnuts, a few sticks of Beef Jerky (Some have one carb, so read your labels), and small bag of pork rinds. Others I love are pumpkin seeds, a few dried cranberries from a natural food store (so they have No added sugar) tossed into the nuts can help too. I also keep at least one of these items in my purse at all times. I'm never without a snack at the ready, and a bottle of water is an absolute staple for me.


A Note on Waiting to Eat:  As I mentioned, the urgency to eat NOW calmed down after the first few weeks for me, but there were times I panicked, and mostly it was when I'd been in my car and out for longer than I thought. Having these low carb snacks at hand helped a lot, but one question did too.
   Am I willing to wait for ten minutes? After that, I could eat anything..just ten minutes.  You see, I'd needed to eat something, even if it was a little meat, a little cheese or one of the one carb choices I'd planed once every two hours for about two weeks. Anything small would keep my metabolism going, and it kept me out of hunger leaving me satiated. I also had full decadent meals, but I planned my two hour foods too. When I'd been out too long without a snack, I'd begin to feel bad and hungry, even sad. The urgency to stop at that McDonald's sign was so, so, so overwhelming! I had to ask myself, "Can I wait ten minutes?" Ten minutes got me past that sign. It also often got me home to healthy Low Carb foods that I knew would make me feel good rather than turning to that old lethargic, bloated french fry state which only depressed me. If it couldn't get me home, I knew and sometimes only trusted that a Quick Market would be within that ten minute time period to get me a small package of Almonds and a bottle of water or even a sugar free soft drink. "Can I wait ten minutes?"

   Information: 
      I highly recommend anyone beginning starting before beginning with reading, "Dr. Atkins Diet Revolution," to see if you feel a Low Carb Lifestyle is for you. There are other Low Carb diets as well, like South beach.
   Encouragement:
     Support and encouragement can be hard to come by. We live in a world taught that fat makes you fat and causes all sorts of problems that were never proven, nonetheless the hype continued, even doctors got on the bandwagon recommending we go "fat-free," and believing it we all gained weight, and many like me got horribly sick from it. So, don't be discouraged when a well intentioned friend, relative or professional tries to scare you into eating low fat or fat free and high carbs. If support isn't available around you, you've got me, plus LOTS of others who have not only lost weight, but seen cholesterol counts go down and blood sugar levels improve so much that many,  no longer need medications for those problems. A great source of support is About.com's Low Carb Forum! There, Laura's recipes and tips, along with a whole group of Low Carbers are right beside you! For a Facebook source of inspiration, I don't know of more encouraging group than "Low Carbing Among Friends!" 

    All of this to say we are NEVER alone, we need never feel shaky and deprived, and TODAY, I hope you celebrate the beautiful you that you are, the healthier you that you're becomming moment by moment, and meal by meal and gentle action by gentle action.
  Take care, With love,
tina jones

Monday, July 16, 2012

With Love, To Kathleen

There was a time I shrunk from the pain of life happenings. I shielded myself, and feelings were stuffed, as they were too big for me. Outside a stone wall that had to be everything to everyone, and pretend everything was ok. Inside a fragile structure of my own making to hold me together into what I thought I *should* be.
  Through time and events bigger than I and my notions of what was acceptable in me, and failing after failing to live to my own standards, I changed.
  I no longer had to be my definition of, "strong." To me, treating pain as a disease and fighting it with fake smiles, what had meant letting no one know the hurt, and letting no one in, now meant embracing it.
  When pain comes I open my arms, and let it blow through me. I crumble at the blows, and fall apart. I cry, rage against injustice, feel the sorrow, and spent, something of peace washes through me.
  Last night, a friend passed away, and last night part of me went with her. For a while, her pain was mine. Her many loved ones and friends in pain, the agony washed through open arms, and after tears, confusion and more tears, memories of her began to roll through me. Lights of comfort, and the knowledge that this event for me was loss, but was in inexplicable magnitude, gratitude.
   So many who loved her have reached out, prayed, sent loving thoughts to her and her family, and I got to be a small part of it. I have seen that I only knew a portion of how greatly she was capable of love, and how many lives she enriched. I am in awe!
   I got to question, why is she gone? She was so full of love, and helped so many, while I am here, and oft don't know what to do. I felt her smile.
  Countless times I, in my clumsiness, would speak of some social thing I didn't understand. I always loved to make her laugh, and I knew she'd jump on the opportunity, such was her joyous way. As many times, she'd explain people to me, and let me know it was o.k. not to get it all of the time. I'd played some Chopin, and she heard, only to tell me his was one of her favorites, and we listened to Erroll Garner, while I listened to stories of old romances, early motherhood and felt a love bigger than I am.
  A thousand years ago at a 12 step meeting I attended I hear the word, "intimacy" rephrased as, "See into me," and now people like Kathleen who have been strong enough to allow others to "see in," are the ones I admire most. Not only do they have this strength of allowing, but it seems by doing so, they can "see" into others. It was not pain I feared, it was vulnerability. When faced, however with someone with whom it is impossible to hide from, and they are there and many (smiles), the very vulnerability I thought a weakness, becomes my strength.
   Thank you, Kathleen for helping me let another layer of this false protection from not pain, but Love go. For helping me let go of things I don't understand and accept a little more each day
For laughing with me and letting me make you laugh sometimes.
For listening to me, and for sharing your stories.
For finding a way to encourage this one whose focus was to encourage others. (You snuck that in on me! smiles.)
For opening the world a little more to me, and for opening me a little more to the world.
For giving me a safe place to simply not get it
For dancing anyway and seeing that my reaching for play is often a way to cope
For making it just o.k. to be whatever I was.
For being along with me a woman, at times an old woman, and at times a child.
For helping me embrace passion for anything that impassioned me.
For the tears we both cried.
For the late evenings when we'd somehow find ourselves giggling, neither making sense, and too sleepy to talk, but that didn't stop us.
Thanks for your time, your openness, your honesty, your humor, your tears, your compassion and your love. I don't expect your work is done. So I wish you joy on your new adventure. If the ride is like anything in this life, I know you'll make it a good one! smiles. Here's to a new beginning, Kathleen!

  Until next time, with love,

tina jones

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Low Carb: I Want Doritos!!! Recipe

   I had a few high carb foods that I craved hard in the beginning, and Doritos Chips made of corn and all of those decadent spices were one of them! They tempted me, taunted and haunted me! The problem is, they range from 12 to 30 carbs per serving, and I never ate one serving of them in my life.


  Well, I found a fix for that craving!
   It is far lower in carbs, but my craving was about crunch and flavor! Not only do these satisfy my cravings for an old favorite, I think they taste even better than Doritos! I wasn't expecting that.
   Corn and wheat don't have a lot of flavor in themselves. My recipe is based on flavorful cheese, spices bring that longed for chili lime, and an incredible crunch makes me wish I'd had this recipe years ago!
  Play with this, and adjust your spices to your liking, even try different cheeses! You may come up with something even better than my version....Quick and easy, here goes!!!

2 slices American Cheese in plastic wrappers
  Remove from wrappers, and fold or cut in four squares. Lay squares checkerboard style back on the plastic wrapper.
   (Note: If using a cheese slice that does not have a wrapper, parchment paper works great too.)
To Taste: Chili Powder
               Onion Powder
                True Lime (This is a powder too, available in the baking section at most groceries in the Us.)
                 Salt
   I used all of the above totally less than 1/16th teaspoon, merely sprinkling my cheese squares with them.
Transfer to microwave, and microwave on High for 45 seconds to 1 minute and 15 seconds, depending on your microwave. Watch in the last ten seconds, as they can burn quickly! You'll want bubbly and lightly browned in spots. Cheese will be bendable when coming out of the microwave, but will crisp up in less than a minute!
Total carbs? 1.2, for a very filling, delicious snack!
  You're done! Enjoy the decadence!

Here's a video Showing how I do this! Please like and share this video, as I know a lot of people feel deprived when they begin diets, and there is every reason for treats like this in a low carb lifestyle.
Click Link to view full size, and do subscribe, I'll have lots more tips along the way.


http://youtu.be/edwlyOZoQTs
                Happy Healthy Eating the Low Carb Way! (Psst! I'm down another pound! Yay!)
 Take care, With Love, tina jones
P.S. The video includes a very simple dip recipe I sometimes like with these!

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Weight Loss Tips Part 3: You Can't Take MY Coffee!

  The very notion of drinking more water and cutting down on coffee was enough to make me give up before I started most diets. I had the idea that I had to do it at once, knew I couldn't do that, and I'd not even try. I gave myself permission to take small steps, and that made all of the difference! I never even told myself that I had to get to any of my goals in better health or weight loss, I just had to take the next small step, hang out there a while, and see if I felt comfortable. When that step was ok, and had become commonplace for me, I'd get my courage, and take the next small step.
   I didn't like hearing I needed to drink more water any more than anyone else does. I love coffee and sodas. Atkin's recommends limiting it to two cups of coffee daily, and I started at two POTS a day! The very idea of cutting down was depressing.
    I didn't make any overnight changes. That may work for some, but being so used to that feeling of shaky, sad deprivation I had for so many years of trying and failing low fat diets, it felt like self abuse to give up anything else that made me feel good, and coffee did and still does!

    Besides the caffeine overload, the plain strong, hot coffee I loved carried with it 0.7grams of carbohydrates. (Keep in mind that many carbohydrate numbers will say, "0" if it's anything under 1.0, so I trust reputable carb counters like the one in the link above. Multiply that 0.7 by the 24 cups a day I was drinking, and that is 16.8 carbs! I needed those carb for vegetables and that is more than 8 servings of green beans! at 16  net carbs total! I had to stay at or under 20 carbohydrates a day to lose weight, so this had to be cut back and quickly. Another thing caffeine does is it causes a release of insulin. This can stall weight loss even if we are under the recommended 20 carbohydrates. It effects different individuals differently, so I'd encourage each person to see how it effects their weight loss. I can successfully lose weight drinking about 2 cups of coffee a day, but I despaired of ever getting there!
 Here's how I cut back:
At first I didn't even think about it. I can't stand giving up anything! It hurts my feelings, seriously! As I said, I'd felt deprived enough, and had enough of it! My answer? I didn't give up anything, ever! Instead, I ADDED things!

1. Every time I got a cup of coffee (see? I'm not giving it up here.) I ADDED one cup of water to my body before I poured my coffee. That move alone cut my coffee intake by half! Ok I was down to 12 cups a day at that point.

2. I discovered that herbal tea has less carbohydrate at 0.4grams in a cup, so I ADDED one cup of Chamomille (my favorite) at the end of every day. That cut my coffee intake down to 11 cups a day, and I was still not trying or willing to even cut down the amount of coffee I drank. You could not have dragged me away from a cup of coffee with seven rabid horses!

3. I was cooking more and eating out less, feeling a little lethargic and discovered that often a cup of buillion is recommended to help with this. I was a little short on salt! No problem! I ADDED a 2 cup MONSTER MUG of buillion in the afternoons. I was down to 9 cups of coffee a day! And anyone who'd have tried to take MY coffee away, might have gotten their fingers bitten! hehe.

4. Slowly, oh so slowly (this took a year probably.) I began ADDING more water to my scoop of ground coffee. I did NOT say that I made weaker coffee, and you can't make me drink weaker coffee! hehe.  I was just ADDING water, until I was drinking those 9 cups at 1/2 strength. At that point, I was drinking what amounts to 4 1/2 cups of coffee a day plus 4 1/2 cups of hot water mixed with it!

5. I am one to sip coffee constantly. I have a black mug, so you can't see what color the fluid is in it. I tend to reheat my coffee in the microwave when it gets cold. My cup was empty, and getting my usual ADDED one cup of water, before I got my beloved coffee, I had to leave the room. When I came back I'd forgotten that this was water, put it in the microwave and heated it. I took it to my computer and was sipping. About half way through, I realized this was NOT coffee, but plain hot water! At first it was funny, but then I realized that I had felt satisfied, that relieved feeling of coffee, and this was water! I ADDED two cups of steaming, comforting, soothing hot water in my beautiful big black mug now filling it decadently to the rim two times a day! I was down to 2 1/2 cups of  coffee a day!

6. My coffee became a daily treat, rather than an all day standard for me. I made a ceremony of it! Need I repeat, I love my coffee, and you can't take it away! hehe. I have a lap blanket that I must have with my coffee, sometimes it calles for ADDED music!

    I have to be careful with coffee, as it is so easy for me to crank the amount I drink back up again, and I will probably never give it up. About a month ago, I was up to 12 cups of my half coffee/half ADDED water again, which is 6 cups of regular brewed coffee. I'm down to two again, using exactly the method and thinking that I did in the first place. I'm also completely diet soda free now. I'd given up all sugared sodas early on, but was drinking a lot of diet soda. I used the same method that I did for coffee. For me, mostly it is because the sweeteners in diet soda can trick the mind into thinking there is sugar there, causing an insulin release in the body. It's all connected! That insulin release blocks fat from being burned.
  I had to identify what I loved about coffee. Ofcourse the taste and smell, and that can only be had with actual coffee, but I did like other tastes and smells to, so I ADDED them. One major thing I love about coffee is holding that cup in my hands close to my body. It was a comfort object of warmth. Any warm beverage in that cup does the same thing, and I'd never have thought it would work. I loved the calming sensation, and I ADDED things like my lap blanket and music to calm myself. Incidentally, I've found that I am actually calmer without so much caffeine. I knew it was a stimulant, but it made me feel calm, so I couldn't give up that rare and precious calm feeling. I had to find other ways to keep that in my life, and even expand on it. I like MORE of just about anything that feels good, and serenity does!
   I didn't start a diet one day at 100%. I made small changes like this as I went along, and over 8 years later, I'm still a work in progress.
   I hope this helps, and I'll have other tips as I go along.
We can do this together! Click the link for the option to view Full Screen
.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BARrlKFuZGQ and don't forget to "Like" and "Subscribe."  Thanks!
tina jones

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Weight Loss Tips 2: Measuring Up and 2 lbs Gone!

Got a little off track, and I'm getting right back on. smiles. I've lost 2 lbs! Yeah! I have 17 to go and more tips along the way. I started at 253, what a wonderous journey it's been! I've often found that a week might go by, try as hard as I could, and the scales would not budge. It can be very dicouraging. Where can you see your efforts? In the measuring tape! Sometimes small, sometimes major changes can be occuring for the better without the scale showing it, and we can use all of the encouragment we can get. We're taking a big step forward in loving ourselves, and being there for loved ones, and every bit of encouragement is worth it. smiles. For that reason, I recommend measuring, not just just the bust, waist and hips usuals, but more. Click Link to see in Full Screen.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T10qszAiqO0 
. . . . . . . . . . . . .

  My original !!! Goal !!! video: http://youtu.be/dgDa-hbNod0 

Weight Loss Tips 1: Weighing In:  http://youtu.be/ay7oZJc0PlA 

Easy Low Carb *Italian* Tostadas!: http://youtu.be/JLmPpaA4QHk 

 All the best!

 tina jones

Music: "Flutey Funk" Kevin MacLeod incompetech.com Licensed under Creative Commons "Attribution 3.0" http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/"

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Turmeric for Face: Ultimate Face Mask!

The simplest face mask, and the one that tops all others I've tried in treating acne, age spots, liver spots, and hyper pigmentation!
  This is simply a few shakes of Turmeric and a few drops of milk!
   Referred to as an "Indian Bridal Mask," this mix usually contains Gram Flour, which is Chickpea flour. Since I don't keep Gram Flour around the house, I decided to try simply Turmeric and Milk. I am in love with this mask for the smoothness, silkiness and glow it gives, but the healing it provides is incredible!
  Come see my results!

Also, view my comparison of Tee Tree Oil, Neem and Turmeric for face! tina jones

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Six Quick Hair Styles for Hair Oiling

How to create Six Quick and Easy Styles *while* Hair Oiling!

   You already know I love coconut oil, but any hair oil may be used to strengthen, soften, and help hair grow.
  The dilemma? I have oily hair, and I've got to go pick up the kids, run to the store, or "Oh, no! Company just showed up! I've got a few fast and fun fixes! smiles.

  I love the simplicity and elegance of the plain bun, but there's no limit the possibilities for style while we're oiling our hair. No more hiding in the house! hehe.

   Let's get started, with some easy, fun ideas!






To view Full size and see my other videos, see it on Youtube.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rKTQgffd18&feature=youtu.be
 tina jones