We Want a Diabetic Alert Dog!

More Than Just a Work Dog, It's A Friend

Long post alert, but it's worth it;)

It has been awhile since my last blog post, and I felt it was past due time to update anyone who may have been following my previous blog posts. In the past I have blogged about a variety of topics, including fitness, nutrition, my time in the navy, as well as my experiences being a mom of a type 1 diabetic.

Do you or someone you love, or know have type 1 diabetes?

Many of you may know that my 6-year-old son, Isaac, is a type 1 diabetic. Type 1 diabetes means that my son's pancreas no longer produces insulin, which requires him to get insulin through his insulin pump that he wears at all times. Insulin is the key to our cells, which allows cells to use the carbohydrates we eat as energy. Without the insulin, and thus, without the energy for our cells, we die.

On September 20, it will have been 2 years since Isaac's diagnosis. It has been a quick 2 years, filled with many good, and many not so good days. We have watched him finally gain weight and height. We have gone from injections, and now are using an insulin pump. It's a little less tedious at times, but still a struggle to change his infusion set every 3rd day (as it still involves a needle).

There have been many mornings where he has woken up with wonderful blood sugars, while other mornings (many of them happening in the past couple of days), in the 50s (his blood sugar range I'd like him to wake up around is above 100, but below 200). It has been rough!

Previously, things were going fairly smoothly with Isaac's diabetes (as smoothly as I could hope, considering). Then, life happens, and it may be (and probably is) a variety of factors that come into play.

Stress, growth, activity, and so much more can affect blood sugar, and boy have we had a lot of stress and activity, but still not a lot of growth. I know that he is growing, and I know that all kids grow at their own pace, but it can be disheartening to see the scale sitting at the same number for months. It is also disheartening to hear this 6-year-old shout 'why do I have to have diabetes?!' For a time, I was checking my blood sugar at the same time that Isaac would check his, and it has helped, but I know that he feels alone in his battle. Yes, I see diabetes as a battle, and what I can do for Isaac is to pray, hope for a cure, and give him my love and support.

Recently, my son attended a 1-day diabetes camp, where he got to spend the day with other type 1 diabetics. They did a lot of fun things like horseback riding, digging for gold, leather working, and hiking. When the day was drawing to a close, parents were invited to meet up with the group at a large park, where we were introduced to some diabetic alert dogs, and their trainer, KC Owens, who is also the founder of Tattle Tail Scent Dogs, which breeds and trains dogs to alert for type 1 diabetics (among other needs, as well).

I got so excited listening to KC talk about the dogs she has trained, and occurrences with her own alert dog. Her passion for these dogs, and the importance of the job that the dogs do made me vow that I would get one for Isaac. Not only are these dogs awesome for catching low and high blood sugars earlier than we could, they are incredible companions! Since they are work dogs, they are able to go just about everywhere.

I truly believe that having a diabetic alert dog would help Isaac in so many ways, not only for his low and high blood sugars, but for friendship! He feels so alone, and depressed at times, and I wish we could afford an alert dog now! Since I'm a student, and my husband works full time (many days he works 12 hours) at a low wage to pay the bills, we are working hard to save as much as we can.

The past couple of months have been the craziest for our family. Not one, but both of our old vehicles stopped working, so we drained our savings to purchase a third, and much more reliable vehicle, all at the same time that we decided to buy a house (since our mortgage will be close to what we are paying now for rent).

Being a Team Beachbody coach has helped me during the past year, but life has a way of allocating my time, so I have not focused on helping others as much as I should. I want to do more! I have goals that I want to achieve, including getting a diabetic alert dog for my son!

I love to help others achieve their goals, and Beachbody can help me to achieve my goals through helping others. I employ you (if you have been touched by my son’s story and our longing for a diabetic alert dog) to step forward if you are ready to commit to your health and fitness.

What are your goals? What do you want out of life? Now, what is holding you back?!

You can help us, while I help to support you, and help you to achieve your goals of losing weight, feeling healthier, gaining confidence, and gaining (or regaining) your health.

Send me a message, friend request me on Facebook (Sarah Biesen (Shull)), or visit my website: www.beachbodycoach.com/iib4. I look forward to hearing from you!

How I'm Preparing For My Spring Reset

Beginning the Beachbody Ultimate Reset on March 31, 2014

I've talked about the Beachbody Ultimate Reset in past blogs, and about my desire to do it. A few weeks ago, I'd mentioned the Reset to my mom, when she spoke of having digestion problems. I'd also mentioned my desire to do the Reset in the future. Then, earlier this week, we went to visit my parents, and I found out that my mom had gotten both of us the Beachbody Ultimate Reset! I was stunned, and feel very spoiled. So, starting this coming Monday, March 31, 2014, my mom and I will be beginning Phase 1 of the Reset, Reclaim.

A Few Days in Advance

After I found out how badly my mom spoiled me, we began planning out how we would need to prepare for the coming 21 days. My mom and I made lists of the items we would need, and ordering some of the supplies from the Internet (which is one suggestion that Beachbody offers for those living in small towns, such as my mom's home of about 3, 300 people, and 2 grocery stores). We talked about how we would slowly wean ourselves off of coffee, since it is highly suggested that you don't drink caffeine during the Reset, because the Reset is about detoxing, not about adding more toxins. My mom and I also talked about keeping in contact every day, or at least every other day to talk about how we are doing. Because the Beachbody Ultimate Reset is such a life-changing experience, joining a support team, or finding support in family or friends, is recommended to ensure that needed support is available when temptation or other tough times arise.

On our way back home, my husband, son, and I went to an Asian Food Market to pick up a few of the items that we weren't able to find easily at a regular grocery store. While at the market, we browsed for various items, and came out with miso paste, which I'll be using to make Miso Soup & Ginger-Sesame-Miso Dressing. We also picked up a bamboo rolling map, which I'll be using to make Nori Rolls. The other items we found were nori seaweed, wakame seaweed, Mirin Japanese cooking wine, and a Kabocha squash. I realized after we were miles away, that the cooking wine contained corn syrup, which was one of the things that is recommended to make sure the cooking wine doesn't have. Thankfully, though, I was able to find some at Fred Meyer in the Asian cooking section, that doesn't have corn syrup in it. About the Kabocha squash, it's a product of Mexico, so I thought it might be found at a regular grocery store, but I didn't see it at Fred Meyer. I will look at Winco, but if I can't find it, and have to use it beyond the one I have, the Reset suggests substituting it with acorn squash (which is easier to find).

Kabocha squash

Sunday, the Day Before It Begins

Since quite a bit of the Beachbody Ultimate Reset consists of eating whole fruits and vegetables, I will be waiting until Sunday, the Day Before It Begins, to purchase the produce I'll need for the first 6 days. I will also be preparing some of the foods ahead of time. I'll be making brown rice, quinoa, various dressings, toasted pumpkin seeds, black beans, and lentils, as well as something called Nori Gomasio. I'm nervous, but also really excited, about starting on Monday!

Get YOUR Beachbody Ultimate Reset and get my support as your free, independent Team Beachbody Coach! How will you get ready for the rest of spring, summer, and the rest of your life?

Clean Eating 101

Clean Eating Groups

As you've heard me talk about before, I'm a Team Beachbody coach, & I'm out to help others to achieve their fitness and nutrition goals! I'm about supporting and motivating others, even if they don't choose to purchase any Beachbody products through me (although, that is nice when that happens). I simply want to see lives changed! One way that I've been seeing lives changed is through free clean eating groups. I've talked a little about these in a past blog post, and I wanted to tell you a little more about what we have been calling clean eating, as well as the successes that my clean eating group members have been experiencing in about 30 days' time. These groups are amazing! If you have been wondering what the clean eating hype as been all about, I would love to answer your questions, and to have you join us!

What's the Clean Eating Hype About?

If you were like me about 1-1/2 years ago, you may think that you are already eating pretty healthy. You may try to limit how often you eat fast food, pizza, hot dogs, donuts, candy, milk shakes, etc. Maybe you eat these types of food only 2 or 3 times a week, but maybe you don't know that they can still be too often. Little things can build up, and eating only about 500 extra calories per week can add up too: to about 1 lb of weight gain for that week! But, it's not just the weight gain that you should be worried about by eating these types of food-period! Since I began hosting clean eating challenges, I have learned quite a bit more about clean eating, & am now extremely passionate about what I purchase at the store. In fact, last night I spent about 45 minutes at the store, and walked away with only about ten items! I get a little fed up with all the preservatives, fake fillers, food coloring, and high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), so I'm getting pretty picky about what I spend my money (and my health) on!

I've gotten pickier about what I eat, because as I do more research, and as I feel the effects when I revert back every now and then to eating junk, I want to eat the junk less and less. It does bad things to the body, and since I've chosen to eat less junk, I've begun to feel better! When you find out what certain preservatives are used for, in addition to what they're used for in food, you begin to wonder why you would put it in your body. For example, azodicarbonamide is used to bleach flour and plastic, used in shoe soles and yoga mats, and is also found in breads, frozen dinners, boxed pasta mixes, and packaged baked goods. Unfortunately, it may cause respiratory problems and allergic reactions.

Another example is brominated vegetable oil, which allows food dye to stick to liquid, and can be found in sports drinks and soda pop. This additive may cause birth defects and major organ damage, not to mention the allergic reactions, possible inhibition of nerve cell development, and ADD/ADHD aggravation that may be attributed to the food dye that the oil sticks to. I often will type in a search engine just about any ingredient that I don't recognize. That's how I've been able to find out the majority of what I've learned. I still take the information I found out with a grain of sand, but when I find the same information over and over again, as well as experiencing the symptoms first-hand (usually prior to finding out that they are possible side effects), I believe it!

I'd rather not risk my, or my family's, health on junk. My body, and your body, deserves to be fed quality fuel. Much of what is put into food is not utilized very well by our bodies. Ever wonder why you can't lose weight? Maybe you exercise five or six days per week, but the scale and measuring tape around your waist aren't moving; It just might be what you are eating that is keeping you from losing weight and inches. I've seen this over the past few months, as the combined total, from 11 members, in the first clean eating group that I hosted lost over 50 lbs in 30 days! True, some of the members were working out during those 30 days, but guess what, you can't out workout a poor diet! These members cut out processed foods, HFCS, white flour and white sugar, among other things, and chose to make healthy meals at home.

So far, in the two clean eating groups going on right now, over 3 weeks' time, there has been a total loss of 23 lbs from 7 members! One group still has one more STAT-urday (or weigh-in on Saturday) to go, while the other group has two more. Through clean eating, these members are regaining their health and taking back their lives! They are telling me things like "I have felt so much better physically," and "I only had 2 slices [of pizza], but I felt like I ate the entire thing to myself. I felt so bloated, and was dragging all afternoon. It's amazing the difference I can feel after cutting out that kind of food for only a couple days! I won't be cheating again any time soon!" That is why I'm passionate about clean eating, and about passing my knowledge about it on to others!

Interested in Clean Eating?

Soon, I will be hosting a clean eating group here on my blog. I will provide 30 days' worth of clean eating recipes (including snacks and a few desserts) and shopping lists to those who want to sign up for a free Team Beachbody account, which will also give you a place to track your weight loss and other measurements, as well as give you a place to track your workouts. You can also use your account to reach out via the message boards to others who may be facing the same struggles, or who may have answers to the same fitness or nutrition questions that you may have. Throughout the month, starting February 22, I will be providing information (did you know that corn is actually as grass; so when you see "grass-fed" beef, you might want to think twice?), a few recipes, and tips and tools that I've been accumulating involving clean eating.

I look forward to the opportunity to support and motivate, since I know how hard it was to begin changing my own eating habits (it has taken me about 10 years to completely cut soda pop out of my diet). I also look forward to learning more from you about clean eating! If you are ready to join me for a journey to cleaner eating, please go to teambeachbody.com/signup to get your FREE account, and use my coach referral id:      i i b 4   Once I'm your coach, I will send you the recipes and shopping lists via the e-mail address that you provide through your account. Thank you, in advance, for your desire to regain (or maybe gain, for the first time) your health!

                                                          Let's do this together!