CRAVINGS for the CRUNCHIES? Healthy Solutions!!

So you've started making the transition to healthy eating, and you're proud of how well you're doing. 
Then suddenly,
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that "crunchy craving" invades your mind!!!  WHY???

Maybe you discovered that bag of potato chips in the pantry? 

Or possibly it's because you haven't fully transitioned.  Some of the "not-so-healthy-foods" can actually create a craving that makes you want more of the "no no" foods.  It's a vicious cycle.  The more you eat those, the less you are satisfied, therefore you crave more of them. 

To eliminate those cravings, the more nutritious you eat, the less you will desire the unhealthy snacks.  

But, as I believe we should never deprive ourselves, it won't hurt to indulge occasionally (that's "rarely" or "infrequently" - NOT "often"),  with a very limited approach.  I certainly wouldn't advise going out to buy what you're craving, if you don't have it in the house. 

But, if you find there's still a bag of chips right there within your reach, and the urge is taunting you unbearably, go ahead and have one serving ONLY (or less). 

1. Check the nutrition label on the package to find how many chips are in ONE SERVING.  
2. Count out only one serving of the chips. 
3. And put them in a small bowl.....................................................                      The small bowl will give the illusion that you have more chips.
4. Close the bag and put it away. 
5. Eat them slowly and savor each bite.
6. Promise yourself to not buy any more.

However, once your journey to health keeps you on a more consistent path, and as you discover the unlimited alternate nourishing snacks that are available, your cravings for the unhealthy foods will at least lessen, and most likely will disappear.

Before I get to the recipes, there are several healthy products you can purchase off the shelf at your market. 

For example, one item that helps me crunch away hunger between meals is WASA Light Rye Crispbread, made with 100% Whole Grain,

NON-GMO verified. 

These have 30 calories per cracker.  A "serving size" is 2 crackers for 60 calories. 

CONFESSION:  Although these are great for satisfying the "crunch desire", they are rather bland.  I've grown to enjoy them right out of the package, in a pinch. 

However, to make them really yummy, spread 1/2 wedge of Laughing Cow Cheese (Creamy Swiss Light, with 50% less fat) on each cracker. 

That's a 95 calorie snack, if you have just the 2 crackers and 1 wedge of cheese.   

Moving on to homemade snacks..................

Here are some easy recipe ideas to get you started:

Keep in mind that I'm not one to "play by all the rules".  I'm not rigid.  I'm flexible.  This is especially true when it comes to recipes.  Feel free to play around with the recipes.  Not only is it fun, but you may just discover an improved version, or something that suits your taste better. 

The first four recipes are my personal favorites. 

They satisfy me better than any old bag of store-bought potato chips.

This Zucchini Crisp recipe calls for bread crumbs, which is not the healthiest ingredient.  These can be made without the bread crumbs, if desired.

For the Carrot Chips, the recipe shows to "peel carrots into thick slices".  I haven't made these, yet, but I think cutting thinner slices may create a more crunchy chip.

Following are two (very similar) recipes to make your own "Herbes De Provence", if you so desire.  This is one of the ingredients in the above recipe for "Almond Herb Crackers". 

However, this can be found at most grocery stores, if you don't want to make your own.

That was your sneak peek into the world of healthy snacks (similar to potato chips). 
This didn't even scratch the surface of the myriad of choices available.

I will be experimenting with more recipes, and will share with you when I do,
because sharing is caring.


You're probably reading this, because you have another "craving", other than the craving for potato chips and other "naughty" snacks --- and that would be to embark on the road to healthy eating, as I have done.  I hope you'll join me in this journey.

I'm sure you've heard "You are what you eat".  Okay, so maybe I'm not a Broccoli Floret, but you get the idea.  Being healthy on the outside, begins with getting healthy on the inside.

 Just in case you need it, here's a gift from me to you. 
A can of INSPIRATION!   
There's no expiration date.  There's an unlimited amount. 
Tap into it, whenever you need it.  I'm here for you.

“Evil White Villains” - PART TWO – FLOUR and BREAD

Along with sugar, flour is another one of the most malicious obstacles to maintaining health.  Just like sugar, consuming white flour contributes to insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and weight gain.  And, like sugar, white flour gives you those unneeded harmful carbs and gluten.

White flour spikes your blood sugar, just as sugar does.  You get that quick burst of sudden energy, but as soon as that disappears, your body is fooled into believing that you are hungry, even when you’re not.  White flour takes longer to digest, so instead of breaking down, your body stores it as fat, which in turn adds pounds to your body.  And, like sugar, white flour can cause tooth decay.

When we think of flour, we may think of baking, but also we think of breads. 

Many people believe that consuming wheat bread is a healthy alternative.  This is a myth, for the most part.  Wheat flour often contains hidden white flour in the ingredients.  Unless you’re eating 100% whole grain wheat bread, avoid the wheat as well as the white.  The 100% whole grain wheat bread may be a little more difficult to find.

 So, now what?  Does this mean we stop eating breads?  Do we stop baking all those yummy goodies, where the recipes call for flour?  Nope!  The good news is that there are numerous recipes for gluten-free, flourless breads, as well as unlimited recipes for some mighty sweet cakes, cookies, and other desserts.  Trust me, when I say “you will NOT miss white flour or sugar, once you begin eating healthy replacements”.  And, you will feel so much better.

 

First, let me tell you about what I’ve substituted for white and wheat bread.  Sprouted bread!  It’s flourless, diabetic-friendly and gluten-free, and I was completely shocked to discover it tastes delicious too.  When I first bought it a little over a year ago, I thought to myself, “I’ll give it a try, but I doubt I’ll be able to eat this stuff”.  I was pleasantly surprised and very satisfied with this bread, and still am!  The one I buy is Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted 100% Whole Grain Bread.  However, there are other acceptable healthy brands on the market.  I have tried the Trader Joe’s brand once, but I prefer the Ezekiel brand much better.  However, since we all have different tastes, you may prefer the Trader Joe’s brand.  Or possibly another equivalent brand.

Often you will find these breads in either the refrigerated section or freezer section of your market.  However, some grocery stores have it located on the shelves with the other breads.  Regardless of where you find it in your store, be sure to refrigerate (or freeze) it as soon as you get home.  It will last a long time.  If you don’t refrigerate or freeze it, chances are your loaf will get moldy in just two or three days.  I learned this the hard way, when I went to make a sandwich and discovered green fuzzies on the bread I had purchased and opened just three days before! 

 I'm guessing the healthy natural foods go bad quicker because they don’t have the preservatives to keep them “fresh”.  I’m learning that “fresh” is subjective when it comes to food.  "Fresh" doesn't necessarily equal "healthy".

 

Of the different types of Ezekiel breads, the other one I’ve tried is the Cinnamon Raisin, and it’s delicious!  It’s become part of my breakfast often.  

  

There are others with the Ezekiel label, such as Sesame, and also Flax, as well as English Muffins and Tortillas.  I haven’t tried these, yet, but plan on doing so soon.

And to my surprise, as I was surfing the internet for these photos, I discovered Ezekiel Waffles!!!  I'll be looking for these in my local store.

FYI - As much as it may look like it, this is NOT an advertisement for Ezekiel!  It just happens to be a personal favorite of mine. 

Here's a partial glance into ingredient information.  For more information, check out the manufacturer's (Food For Life Baking Company) website:  http://www.foodforlife.com/

Look for the same in other brands too.

Occasionally I indulge in some sourdough bread, probably more than I should.  I’m pretty sure I’d be better off if I gave it up completely.  I justify it by telling myself it’s the lesser of the bread evils.  There are some sourdough bread recipes that are healthy, but I haven’t tried them, yet.  They seem a little complicated for this simple gal.  But, if you are interested in trying them, just search for “healthy sourdough bread recipes” on Pinterest.  Make sure the recipe includes a sourdough starter.

 

OKAY, that was FLOUR and BREAD - Short and simple.

But, you say you want to bake?  Sure, no problem!  There are several alternative healthy flours.  Here are the ones I’ve used:

                    Almond Flour

                    Coconut Flour

                    Flaxseed Meal

                    Oat Flour

                    Peanut Flour

These are the ones I’ve become familiar with.  I’ve frequently used Almond Flour and Coconut Flour.  As with other healthy ingredients, sometimes adjustments need to be made.  For example, Coconut flour soaks up liquid much faster than other flours, so increasing liquid or decreasing the flour is necessary. 

I’ve even experimented with modifying my famous Pumpkin Bread recipe!  The original recipe calls for 3-1/2 cups of white flour and 3 cups of white sugar – UGH – sooooo unhealthy!  My first couple experiments came out okay – just okay.  I know there’s room for improvement.  I’ll be continuing with this experiment until I’m happier with the results.  When that happens, I’ll be posting the New Improved Healthy Pumpkin Bread Recipe.

I’ll get further into this later, by posting some yummy sweet baked goodies that I’ve already successfully made.  Even my hubby, who has a major “sweet tooth”, thoroughly enjoys my new healthy recipes! 

For now, I’ll be signing off and leaving you to ponder the information you just learned; and maybe you’ll consider making some healthy changes to your diet, like I have. 

I think it’s important to tell you that for most of my 68 years on this earth, my eating habits used to be rather unhealthy.  I was raised eating fried fatty foods, lots of sugar-laden treats, soda, only starchy vegetable (such as corn), rarely fresh foods, usually canned foods, no green vegetables, no salads, very little fruit, and just very poor eating habits.  It’s all I knew.  So any time I would hear someone speak of nutritious, wholesome foods, all I would hear is “blah blah blah blah blah”, and ignore it.  I was lucky that for most of my life, I felt good, didn’t gain weight and was rarely sick.  So it’s no surprise that I didn’t pay attention to the advice I had heard or read about – until it all caught up with me, and I began gaining weight and having medical issues.  The good news is that it’s never too late to make changes, and I’m so grateful I did!       

With Gratitude and Love,

Ginny

“Evil White Villains” - PART ONE - SUGAR

 “Evil White Villains” - Criminals We Allow to Rob Us of Our Health


You know who they are.  They are the ones who pretend to be our friends.  They entice us with yummy goodness.  They scam us into believing they are tastier than they actually are.  Oh, sure, the first couple bites or mouthfuls seem mighty delicious, making you crave more, but after finishing the entire serving, we often realize the deception.  Do you really feel better after consuming a big bowl of ice cream?  OR a piece of sugary cake loaded with frosting?  OR that candy bar?  OR a large serving of mashed potatoes and gravy?  OR those French fries?  OR a Super Size soft drink from a fast food joint?  (You get the idea!)

A LITTLE BIT OF TRIVIA: 

1955: McDonald's formed an official partnership with Coca-Cola, offering just a single 7-ounce size fountain drink.  Since that time, soft drink sizes have increased excessively.

Your “food hangover” after devouring that huge rich meal or sugary sinfulness, is an illusion you probably believe was caused by eating too much.  Well, yes, maybe you did eat too much, but most likely it’s NOT the AMOUNT you ate, but most likely it’s caused by WHAT you ate. 

This is one reason why using calorie counting alone, is not an effective weight management tool. 

(More about that later in another post...)

Let’s tackle one “Evil White Villain” at a time…

PART ONE - SUGAR

If you liked the visual images above to show how out of control society has become with outrageously large soft drinks, check this one out --
check out the huge unhealthy amounts of sugar in common beverages...

"Yes, I'll have that bottle of water, please!"

If you’re not yet on the path to health, eliminating SUGAR is a good place to begin.  Removing SUGAR from your diet is actually easier than you think.  Many foods are naturally sweetened.  And, there are several healthy alternative sweeteners on the market you can use in place of SUGAR.

WHY IS SUGAR OUR NEMESIS?

Sugar is an empty calorie, meaning there is no nutritional value, even though it gives you a temporary boost of energy.  After that brief energy dissipates (and it will, quickly), your body sends you a false signal, making you think you are hungry, even when you are not.  This is caused by your blood sugar being out of whack, so it’s telling you to eat to bring your blood sugar back into balance.  By eating nutritious foods your blood sugar will remain stable.

Sugar that doesn’t get broken down, converts to fat.  If you consume large quantities of sugar, you will have difficulty breaking it down in your system.  So, guess what?  FAT!!! 

I don't know about you, but the next time I look at sugar-infested food or drinks, I think I will condition myself to hear the word "FAT". 

Some of the really disturbing highly potential dangers of consuming sugar are: 

Diabetes

Hypertension

Heart Disease

Obesity

Osteoporosis

Weight Gain

Dental Cavities

Tooth Decay

High Blood Pressure

Weakening of the Immune System

Increased Risk of Cancer

Food Allergies

Increased Chronic Pain

So, if you haven't already done so, let’s begin banishing that “Evil White Villain”,
so sweetly named SUGAR.  (pun intended) 
There’s no better time to start than NOW.  This one present moment is all we have, so let’s DO IT!  Take one “NOW” moment at a time, focusing on avoiding SUGAR in any form.

Be sure to read the nutrition labels on anything you’re about to consume.  Make sure the ingredients are free from ANY type of SUGAR, such as dextrose,(also known as glucose), fructose, galactose, sucrose (granulated table sugar), maltose and lactose, etc. 

Chemically-different substances may also have a sweet taste, but are not classified as sugars. Some are used as lower-calorie food substitutes for sugar described as artificial sweeteners, such as Aspartame and Sucralose.  These include such brand names as Splenda, Equal, Nutra Sweet and Sweet'N Low, and should be avoided, too, because they are chemically manufactured. 

However, the good news is there are several healthy natural plant-based sweeteners available.  Examples are Stevia, Truvia, Swerve, Pyure, Erythritol and Xylitol***.  I’ve also used a Confectioner’s Sugar with the Swerve label for making a delicious frosting.  And, Truvia is available in a Brown “Sugar” Blend.  I haven’t used that one, yet.  Honey is also another alternative, but should be used in moderation.

IMPORTANT NOTE: 

***Xylitol can be fatal for dogs, so it’s necessary to keep this away from your fur babies.  However, Xylitol is perfectly safe for human consumption.

Depending on how you use them, it may take a short time for you to adjust to these natural sweeteners.  Many are much sweeter than SUGAR, so you need to start out with a small amount and add sparingly to taste.  But some do measure cup for cup, the same as SUGAR.  But, even then, I often use less than indicated in the recipe.  Just check the label, before you begin using.  Some may also have a “different” after-taste, usually if added to warm/hot food or drink, which is more noticeable when you first begin to use it.  I always put my baked goods in the refrigerator, and have not noticed this taste after it’s cooled.  Another way to avoid or minimize this is to mix some of the various natural sweeteners (mentioned above), especially when using a larger amount as in baking. 

  

Important to note: 

Consuming sugar in VERY SMALL amounts "may" be acceptable, provided you don’t fall into the habit of eating so much that your system will not be able to break it down.  Often, consuming even small amounts of sugar has the possibility to cause you to crave more sugar, and so the cycle begins. 

As mentioned before....

sugar that doesn’t get broken down will convert to harmful fat. 

By eliminating sugar, your taste buds will become adjusted to not having it. 

You won’t crave it anymore, and you won’t miss it. 

You will feel healthier, because you will be healthier.

Keeping all of this in mind (and any further suggestions made in future posts), while I do believe in the importance of changing how we eat, I am also a firm believer in not depriving ourselves.  That’s not to say we should give in to every whim or passing craving, because we shouldn’t.  But, any “diet” that forces you to struggle to remain on track, could very easily create other issues, such as stress, and possibly eating disorders.  Sometimes it will help you stay focused by just knowing that it’s okay to bend the rules on occasion, whether you follow through, or not.  Just having that knowledge helps.  Quite often, that passing thought of wanting sugar, will subside anyway.  This is especially true, if one of your reasons for jumping on this path to healthy eating is to release weight.  The more you vary from this journey, the longer it will take to shed the pounds.   

Remember - this is not a temporary “diet plan”.  This is a life-long commitment to improve your health by choosing your food and nutrition consumption wisely.  Even if you’re not trying to lose weight, the benefits of eating healthy are abundant.

 And, as with anything...
Whatever you do, do what is best for you.

Signing off for now, with gratitude and love,
Ginny

When Life Gives You Lemons.....Drink Lemon Water

When life gives you lemons, squeeze them and drink warm lemon water!

Morning is a good place to start

It's the beginning of a new day

You have a clean slate, undamaged by yesterday

It's your choice to create what you want in this new chapter

Can you think of a better way to jump into a new day, than to enjoy a nice warm glass of lemon water?!

 

Some of the Benefits of Drinking Warm Lemon Water in the Morning ~

 

1.   Drinking warm lemon water in the morning “kick-starts” your day, setting a tone of pleasing contentment, providing a rewarding boost.

(Of course, as passionate as I am about gratitude, I also suggest focusing on thoughts of gratitude, while drinking your morning lemon water.)

2.   Aids in maintaining a healthy digestive system, by assisting the liver to produce bile to flush out unwanted materials.

 

3.   Because it helps purge impurities from the blood, it promotes clear skin and prevents wrinkles.

 

4.   Balances pH by reducing your body’s general acidity.  Although lemons contain citric acid, after metabolizing they are actually alkaline.  Alkaline rich foods are necessary for a healthy diet. 

Go Green (and a little red and yellow too)!

5.   Increases urination, which eliminates toxins faster, and purifies the body.

 

6.   Lemons are high in Vitamin C and Potassium, so this boosts your immune system, by preventing the growth of bacteria that causes infections and diseases.

 

7.   The potassium in lemon, helps nourish brain and nerve cells. 

Stress depletes the body of Vitamin C, so retaining Vitamin C in your system, by drinking the warm lemon water, can help reduce stress, providing serenity and tranquility. 
 

8.   The pectin fiber in lemons helps stimulate healthy weight loss, because it curbs appetite cravings.

 

9.   Alleviates respiratory issues, and has even been known to relieve symptoms of allergies and asthma.

 

10.  Freshens breath, along with easing toothaches and gingivitis. 

 

****Important to note – (nothing is perfect)

   It’s strongly recommended to brush your teeth immediately after drinking your lemon water, as the enamel on your teeth can be damaged when coming in direct contact with the lemon juice.     

With love & gratitude,

Ginny

      

My Story - My Motivation

MY STORY - MY MOTIVATION

(What's yours?)

QUESTION:

Why am I telling you what I’m about to say?

ANSWER:

Because I want you to know that if I can experience the debilitating issues that I have, and find a better life by simply making some little changes, then you can do it, too.

For most of my life I was pretty healthy, or so I thought, because I felt good most of the time and never had any issues with my weight.  I could eat anything, yet still remained a teeny tiny petite little person.  That changed after being in a car accident that prevented me from exercising, shortly after turning 40 years old.  Suddenly I gradually began gaining weight.  Over the years I ate less, was active with exercising, playing volleyball, swimming, and lots of dancing, but that didn’t stop my body from changing.  I thought I was eating “healthy”, but I didn’t really know what healthy eating was.  The pounds continued to grow.  I don’t have much room to spread those pounds, as I am very short in height.  It seemed as though every little ounce showed.

I tried some fad diets, I went to Weight Watchers, I counted calories, I had a gym membership, I even took the prescription Phen-fen for three months.  All those strategies worked, somewhat, BUT only on a temporary basis.  I researched diet pills and diet drinks, only to discover they contained ingredients that seemed more geared to help people who had a constipation problem.  I was the opposite.  I was diagnosed with IBS/D, so if I took any of those diet products, they would aggravate my stomach issues.   I had read that eating fruit and other food items, such as cabbage were good for health and weight loss, but eating them only made my digestive issue worse.  In retrospect, I realize now, it was NOT the healthy foods, like fruits, that caused my problems.  It was all the other stuff I was eating that interacted with the healthy foods to cause my problems.  But back then I didn’t know this, so instead, I just avoided the healthy foods, and lived with the idea that there was nothing I could do about my weight. 

As I continued to age, arthritis surfaced, which caused exercising and activities to be painful. 

Then in January 2011 my pains became unbearable and immediately sent me straight to Urgent Care.  I could hardly walk.  I was diagnosed with Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), massive blood clots filling my entire leg.  This put a sudden halt to most normal activity in my life. 

After being on blood thinner medication for a while, the blood clots began disappearing.  I was beginning to feel a bit better, but was continuing to experience chronic pain in other areas of my body.  After several months of various testing, and the serious medical issues and diseases were ruled out, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia.  I resigned myself to the idea that the rest of my life would be filled with daily chronic pain, fatigue, depression and all the other symptoms from Fibro.  Living with physical limitations creates obstacles in one’s life, especially since many other people do not understand what it’s like.

During this time, while I was dealing with my health problems, my husband was battling prostate cancer.  He had been diagnosed one month after I had been diagnosed with DVT.  It was a challenging time for both of us.  Our only outings were the many visits to doctors and specialists.  We called those our “dates”. 

My arthritis continued to worsen, and was told it was Osteoarthritis, which often comes along with aging.  During some of my previous testing, it was discovered I had nerve damage in my left arm which triggered numbness in half of my left hand, while the other half was in pain. 

When my legs began swelling and leaking fluid, I was diagnosed with Lymphedema.  Keeping it under control is very time-consuming and exhausting, especially for someone with the chronic pain issues from Fibro and Osteoarthritis. 

It felt as though my life, as I knew it, was over.

For more than three years I was quite sedentary.  I justified my lazy lifestyle because the pain didn’t allow me to move much; and being older gave me reason to no longer care about what I ate.  By this time, I needed a cane to help me walk.  I was a mess.  I could not take anything stronger than Tylenol for pain, because pain meds interact adversely with blood thinner meds.  I had to learn to deal with the chronic pain.

My Rheumatologist had told me the importance of movement in the body, to avoid stiffness.  He called it “oiling the joints”.  But, it was a vicious circle for me.  I couldn’t move because of the pain (or so I thought), but if I didn’t move, the pain was worse. 

Being depressed and frustrated about my lethargic life, in November of 2014, I suddenly felt a burst of motivation.  I’m not sure where it came from, but I knew I wanted to try to do something to feel better.  I desperately wanted my life back. 

The first thing I did was to dust off my treadmill and try to walk. It wasn't easy at first.  In fact, it was unequivocally difficult.  But I was determined to give it everything I had. The first few days I walked for only one minute at the slowest speed. I was surprised to discover that just moving my body, even a little, lessened the pain.  I was feeling a little better, so I gradually increased my walking time and the speed.  I invested in a Fitbit to keep track of my steps.

Shortly after that, the results of my annual bone density scan showed signs of Osteopenia, which is the beginning signs of Osteoporosis.  My doctor strongly suggested that I include stretching exercises to my daily routine.  Otherwise I’d have to begin a new medication, and I didn’t want that.  Often, adding movement and healthy eating to a routine, can help eliminated taking those awful medications that usually have unpleasant side-effect.  To my surprise, again, stretching helped me feel better and slightly decreased my pains.

 

Keep in mind that, although body movement is essential, it doesn’t need to be long strenuous workouts.  With Fibromyalgia, I am not able to do the long strenuous exercises anyway.  However, even with mild movement, I’m still much farther ahead that I was in my sedentary life. 

After watching some Dr. Oz and Dr. Phil episodes on TV, I noticed much of their shows were focusing on healthy eating.  So, I started researching nourishing foods, nutrition and the benefits of eating healthy.   My main goal was to try to incorporate what I learned in my research, along with walking and stretching just to feel better.  Weight loss had not even crossed my mind at this time.  BUT, in the process, not only did I begin feeling much better, pounds were melting off my body, too!  And, I stopped depending on a cane to help me walk!

I’m not “cured” by any means.  I still experience pain and other symptoms, but they have lessened enough to give me life back!  Many of the fun and satisfying good times I thought were gone forever, now are bringing me a more fulfilling life once again.  It's never too late to begin again, not even at 68 years old.

So, I'll begin at the beginning, a logical place to start~

My first experience in healthy eating was to eliminate the “Evil White Villains”, as I call them.  They are the criminals who were robbing me of my health.

So I waved “bye-bye” to………..

·        Sugars

·        Flour

·        Potatoes

·        Pasta

·        Rice

Yeah, all that tasty white stuff that I loved, but that did NOT love me!

I made a conscious effort to drink more water.

In addition I wanted to put an end to unconscious “mindless eating” – you know, a little bite of this here; a handful of that there.  It’s rather amazing how often I was doing that throughout the day!  To become aware of this and to focus on no longer doing it, I began counting calories on my Fitbit App.  By forcing myself to write down everything that went into my mouth, the mindless eating ceased. 

Since I mentioned calorie counting above, I just want to say that counting calories in NOT a necessity.  I do it just to keep myself in check.  It’s not about the amount of calories we consume.  It about the contents of the calories that matter.

 I’ll get into more details, later.  And, I’ll provide more information about how easy it can be to give up those “Evil White Villains”.  It’s surprising the unlimited countless substitutes available, which are delicious.  Our tastes and cravings change as we make these changes. 

But, for now, I’m signing off. 

With love and gratitude,

Ginny

P.S.  I am not a medical professional.  I do NOT have all the answers.  But, I do believe I've gained much valuable information that has help me; and I just want to share it with you.