Hope is alive

     

     I have a two-hour commute to work. Thankfully, I only work about seven days a month for 24-hour shifts, so I don’t mind it too much. It’s usually a boring drive across I-64, but I’m grateful for the minimal traffic. I usually enjoy this commute as my quiet time to process life’s events. Some days I listen to audiobooks, because I also enjoy a good story to be read to me.
     This morning I felt sad, as another dear friend has passed away from a sudden illness. This is a friend near my age, whose family will have to go on without him, just as it has happened to many others. I didn’t feel like listening to a story or the radio, yet the quiet was too much. I started to pray, but I couldn’t get past my feeling of emptiness and sadness for his family. 
     I thought of Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, which says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die.”  Verse four adds, “...a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.” It seems so matter-of-fact, doesn’t it?
     I looked at the gray clouds ahead of me, as the morning was seeing it’s first light. “What a drab day,” I thought, as I stared at the stark scenery. It really fit my mood, my emptiness, and my feeling of hopelessness in this matter-of-fact world. 
     I looked up and glanced at my driver’s side mirror as I had just done a few seconds earlier. To my surprise, I could see a cascade of beautiful colors filling the small mirror. The sun was rising quietly and slowly. Hues of yellow, orange, pink and blue expanded the sky behind me, as if God just took His paintbrush and painted a magnificent scene in just seconds. It took my breath away. 
     In that moment, I remembered that God promises to never leave us, and that our hope is in Him. He hasn’t forgotten any of us.  Matthew 10:30 says, “And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” God knows each of us well and cares for us enough to know every detail about us. This world may seem matter-of-fact at times, but God gives us hope.  His eyes are on us. Psalm 33:18 says, “But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love.”
     So I exhaled out my sadness, and then I smiled. My heart felt warm and full, because God reminded me that He stays close to us, and He is our reason for hope.  That hope will always be alive. 

Chicago

Chicago at night

Chicago from Michigan Street, 29 floors up

Very cold Chicago morning

My daughter and I spent some time shopping in Chicago over the weekend. What a fabulous city! Needless to say, the American Girl Place took up most of our time. That store is huge. My daughter picked out her first American girl doll, Gabriella. Gabriella got her hair done, her ears pierced, and she sat at the table in the American Girl Cafe with us for lunch. She even got her own plate and cup! It was quite the experience, and I have to say that I was amazed. 

Insulin resistance, PCOS, Infertility

     This is mostly for the ladies, but insulin resistance applies to the guys, too. We all hear these terms a lot, and they are all connected.
     Insulin resistance occurs when we take in too much glucose over time (diet, carbs) and our bodies start working overtime to metabolize and use it. When we eat that cookie or donut or that handful of French fries, we are eating carbs (sugar). Our bodies were made to be able to keep our glucose levels in check. As we eat more carbs, our bodies produce enough insulin to keep our circulating glucose level in a normal range, so we don’t become diabetic.
     If we eat too many carbs over time, our bodies start struggling with the production of insulin. Insulin is produced by islet cells in the pancreas. They get tired when they are in demand all the time. As our insulin levels rise up to higher levels to combat the excessive circulating glucose in our bloodstream, we start storing more fat.
     Insulin causes us to store fat well, and it causes inflammation. So higher glucose leads to higher insulin, which leads to more body inflammation and weight gain. This is where a ketogenic diet can help. Lower carbs lower circulating glucose, which lowers the need for excess insulin. Inflammation is reduced and less fat is stored (you lose weight).
     For women, as the elevated insulin causes fat storage (weight gain), that fat also causes a rise in estrogen. Elevated estrogen disrupts the normal menstrual cycle and causes missed periods or irregular periods. Elevated estrogen disrupts the normal release of a dominant egg for fertilization. A normal cycle has an estrogen build and surge mid-cycle, which releases an egg (ovulation) for fertilization (pregnancy). If you are overweight, you have excess estrogen which disrupts this normal cycle. Instead, the elevated estrogen causes many ovarian follicles to grow and get big, causing large multi-cystic ovaries, but no dominant follicle is released (no ovulation). The other term for this is polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
     If you have PCOS, you are probably overweight, and you may have had gestational diabetes in a prior pregnancy. You may be pre-diabetic. This is why your doctor puts you on an anti-glycemic medication (usually metformin). The doctor is trying to help reduce your circulating glucose, to reduce your insulin level, to reduce your fat storage (weight loss), to reduce your excess estrogen, so 
you can get pregnant.
     Women who are overweight chronically also have an increased risk for uterine cancer. Why? Because elevated estrogen from their fat stores also causes the uterine lining to build and become thickened. It overbuilds and becomes unstable causing the lining to shed causing heavy, irregular bleeding. Over time, the constant building of the lining can cause the cells to become abnormal, just like any other cancer. There is no mechanism to shut down the overbuilding of the lining until a woman loses weight (fat stores). Ladies, if you are overweight, and you’re having one or two heavy periods a year, you need to see your gynecologist.
     I hope this quick explanation has been helpful. Go low-carb!

Halloween Boo

Becky Johnson is a Certified Nurse Midwife I work with in Paoli. She made this and shared it with me. Too cute!

Last chemo!

Celebrating with my mom today. Her last chemo (immunotherapy) for Stage IIIB breast cancer, diagnosed one year ago. She is status post a bilateral mastectomy and radiation. She is looking good! I thank God for her health. I’m also thankful for her doctors: Dr. Bill Hoagland, Dr. Geetha Joseph, and Dr. Carole Scharf from the Baptist system. 

I think it’s time for this tattoo in honor of my mom, my friend Barb, and all of the other survivors out there. Oh yeah, and for me too! This is Barb’s tattoo.

For the Lady Peeps....let’s talk Gyn

     Hi ladies, and any gents who have interest. I thought we’d start with a sip of bourbon for this conversation. Although I’m no longer in office practice, I still work full-time as an OB Hospitalist. I chose this pathway because now I work 24-hour shifts, only 7 days a month. Although the shifts can be tiring, I enjoy having more time off with my family. 
     So, today, I wanted to open up the floor for discussion of OB/Gyn topics. If you have a burning question that you need an answer to, please post it in the comments. If you are asking an embarrassing question, you can also email me at havenofear4110@gmail.com. That is my blog address. Please limit your questions to two for now. I will try to answer the questions as soon as possible. Those questions posted on the blog will be answered first. 
     Let’s have some fun with this, since trips to see your Gyn are never fun!

Fall beauty

Some pretty Fall scenery from French Lick, Indiana. 

Bible app

     I wanted to share this awesome Bible app with you. I’ve downloaded it to my iPhone and my iPad. I use it almost every morning. There are lots of different devotionals to choose from. You can add friends and see what they are reading, which I like because my friends help me find great devotionals.

     If you download it, look me up and friend me. We can share devotionals. There are also daily Bible verses with beautiful photo backgrounds. Enjoy 😉!

     The @YouVersion Bible App has a permanent spot on my home screen. Read, watch, listen, and share…all in a free app:
http://bible.com/app
http://bible.com/app

Ketogenic diet

I just wanted to give you a quick food list and carb count for ketogenic foods/diet. Realize that some people only use the KETO//OS drink/supplement without changing their diet much. Sorry the charts did not copy well. You can find this information on the Pruvit website.

Independent Pruvit Promoter

More ketosis and KETO//OS information for you

Denise’s take on ketogenic diet/ketosis/and KETO//OS

I’ve had a lot of interest in this topic, so I wanted to share my thoughts and experience so far as a written narrative. Bear with me. All of this wordage will be worth it. If you’ve seen my posts on this subject on Facebook or my on blog (www.denisejbruneau.blogspot.com), then you’ve seen my results in just one month. Keep in mind that there is no medical claim or studies that show a benefit from drinking ketones.

My motivation started out as one of self-preservation. I had such encouraging results, that I felt like I had to share it with my friends. I’m 48 now, my ovaries are gone, though I do take low-dose estrogen, and I’m feeling my age. I’m talking about bloating, muffin-top syndrome, exhaustion beyond just fatigue, and moodiness. I first decided it was just menopause, and I would eventually plateau and feel somewhat better. I waited and waited, but I just kept feeling worse and getting fatter. I started to get depressed and to feel on edge. I could starve myself and still GAIN weight. I could exercise, but I couldn’t get rid of the belly fat. I hated exercise because I was too tired to enjoy it. My joints hurt.

Then a few months ago, a friend from high school asked me my opinion on ketosis. I poo-pooed it. There is no medical literature to support taking in ketones in one’s diet, with the exception that in a few studies, it’s been shown to reduce seizures in children with epilepsy. About a month passed, and a medical study came across my email that talked about a ketogenic diet showing a decrease in chronic migraines in a small group of people. That got my attention. It was a medical study showing a reduction in the number and intensity of migraines. I suffer terribly from them to the point of being desperate to try almost anything with an ounce of medical data.

I read more about a ketogenic diet at that point. The purpose of this diet is to reduce carbs to a minimum (simple and complex sugars). Our body uses two pathways for energy: glucose and ketones. Ketones are only burned after all the glucose is used up. By constantly eating carbs, we never reach ketosis, because we always have circulating glucose. Ketosis burns fat very effectively and quickly. Circulating glucose also requires insulin to keep it in check. Insulin is pro inflammatory, so it causes inflammation, and it stores fat. If we are eating a lot of carbs, our glucose is high, and our bodies are forced to make insulin. More insulin leads to fat storage, weight gain, inflammation, and fatigue. The other fact I found interesting was that cancer feeds on glucose. People with cancer undergo a scan called a PET scan to see if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. A glucose-rich dye is injected in their vein, and the cancer cells take up the dye. Then a scan is done showing where the dye is. It’s in the cancer.

I googled the carbs in various items, because I really didn’t know how many carbs are in most foods. One cup of pasta has 39-40 grams of carbs. A banana has 21 grams. A cup of black beans has 36 grams, while a cup of rice has 45 grams.  On a ketogenic diet, you are limited to 5% carbs, so that’s only 20-30 grams of carbs/day. My eyes bugged out and I thought, “What am I supposed to eat?” It’s a tough diet to follow, because you end up eating mostly fats and some protein.  A person can’t get enough electrolytes or vitamins eating mostly fat and protein. Plus, I wondered how it might affect my cholesterol, which is a bit high right now.

I decided to try it. My main motivation was to see if ketosis helped my migraines. I thought it would be an added bonus to lose weight as well. What could it hurt? I decided it would be important to be focused on the results I wanted, and so I adhered to the diet for about 3 days. I ate an egg and two pieces of bacon for breakfast with a little avocado. I put heavy cream in my coffee. No sugar at all. For lunch, I ate a Caesar salad with chicken or shrimp with the dressing, but no croutons. For dinner, I ate steak and green beans. I stopped eating after 6pm and I would have a cup of tea with heavy
cream at night for a treat. I drank water or coffee or tea. There are many other food choices, but yo
u have to be creative, which I don’t have much time for.

There are a number of Keto drinks/supplements out there. This particular brand ranked second on a scale of the top five. It’s as good as number one, but it’s less expensive. It’s still pricey, though. By adding the Kreme once in the morning and the KETO//OS Max once or twice a day (afternoon, sometimes evening), I found that my cravings were curbed, I didn’t want sugar all the time, and I was able to eat more carbs. The KETO//OS is the original ketone drink. KETO//OS Max is newer with 40% more ketones. The Orange KETO//OS has more fat and so it suppresses one’s appetite better. The KETO//OS Chocolate swirl is better for those with GI/digestion/IBS issues. It contains probiotics. The KETO//OS versions without the Max are cheaper.

In the first 10 days, I lost 10lbs. Some of it was water weight. YOU MUST DRINK PLENTY OF WATER. Ketones and fat can be hard on your gallbladder and kidneys. My weight loss plateaued at 7 lbs, but I noticed that I liked my shape better. My jeans started hanging on me. They were baggy. I didn’t have that pooch and bloating anymore. My face looked thinner. I really think that ketosis helps to reshape the body by the way it burns fat. All of last summer, I would not be seen in a bathing suit. I felt fat under my clothes; but I was okay with it this past week when I took my daughter swimming at a hotel. That was a big deal for me. I should add that I did not exercise regularly during this first month, so this was weight loss without exercise. I plan to have my cholesterol checked in 5 months, but from what I understand, there is only a temporary bump upward in cholesterol and then it normalizes. This makes sense, since with ketosis, we are burning fat.

Now, I must say, some people don’t eat a ketogenic diet at all and just use the drink and supplement, and they still lose weight and feel that their clothes fit better. I don’t think that is the best approach for me. I want to actively lose weight, take an active role in caring for what I’m putting in my body, and be responsible for my health by exercising. My plan is to continue the same regimen daily and add swimming laps leisurely or yoga three times a week. I don’t think one can eat donuts, candy bars, cookies, and carbs and take this drink and be really successful. But one can have some carbs. I ate chili last night. No crackers. I ate a Halloween cookie. Think portion when you eat carbs. Look at how many carbs are in the food item you are about to eat. Google it on your cell phone. That’s what I do. Once you know, you may not think it’s worth the carbs.

As I started to see and feel the results, it wasn’t only weight loss and change in my body that I observed. I sleep better, and so I require less sleep. I have a lot more energy, which is one of the best parts. My joints don’t hurt as much. My mood is better. I want to be more engaged with others, because I have the energy now. I can’t guarantee you will have the same results I have, but I’m impressed for me. Please note again that many people DO NOT follow a ketogenic diet with this drink/supplement, but they still see results.

The cost bothered me at first, so I only ordered enough for a month to try it out. Now that I’m going to stay on it, there is a “Smart ship” option which signs me up for monthly shipments at a 22% discount. Also, as a Smart ship member, I get free product for referring other people. That helps me pay for my product. There are other memberships that will help you save more, if you decide you’re sold on this product.

Please view these videos. They are simple and helpful.
Independent Pruvit Promoter
http://dashcarbs.DrinkYourSample.com
http://dashcarbs.ShopKeto.com
http://dashcarbs.experienceketo.com

One month after a ketogenic diet and Keto//OS

I’m not big on posting pictures of myself, especially unflattering pictures. But I wanted to show you the difference in my face after one month of a ketogenic diet and the Keto//OS supplement. 

Before:

After:

These pictures are unaltered. I don’t have a dark tan in the skinnier picture. I just love this new way of eating and the help I get from this supplement. This is after only one month of making the change. Check it out. 

Independent Pruvit Promotor

http://dashcarbs.drinkyoursample.com/

Halloween fun

Here are a few photo ideas for Halloween. I like to keep my decorating simple and not so scary. Just a few orange and purple lights, a couple decorated pumpkins, and a few pumpkin lanterns.

My sister put together this guacamole snack. 

Lastly, decorating a few Halloween cookies is always a fun and delicious Halloween project.

There is more to this life....

     “Fly Like an Eagle,” the song by the Steve Miller Band in 1973 sings the familiar words of “Time keeps on slippin’, slippin’, slippin’ into the future.” My 18-year anniversary for breast cancer survival just passed on September 9. To the day, 17-years later, it was my mom’s one-year anniversary as well. I was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 30, and although I had major surgery and radiation, I’m so thankful that I did not have to endure chemotherapy. Though, if I could have taken the chemo for my mom, I would have. It was hard to see someone I love have to endure such a crude therapy. It was both life-draining and life-saving at the same time. At one point, I was fearful that I would lose my mom to the effects of neutropenic sepsis. 

     Psalms 103:15-16 says, “The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows it over and it is gone, and it’s place remembers it no more.” I’ve thought of my mortality many times in my many survival years, as I’ve seen others perish. Not just from cancer, but from all of the harsh effects of this life. In the past two weeks, several people near my age have passed away. This week, I have a dear friend recovering from a triple bypass surgery, another one in the hospital with sepsis, and another one in the hospital with bilateral pulmonary emboli (lung blood clots). The weight of the grief and sadness we encounter in this life can sometimes be too heavy to bear. 

     The thing is, we are all here on this earth for a specified time. Our days are numbered. It matters what we do with that time, how we treat others, how we love and are loved, and what legacy we leave behind for our children. Having survived breast cancer, along with many other survivors, I am reminded of how blessed I am to have more time with the ones I love and more time to make a difference. 

     The clock ticks away, each day passes.  I believe we each have a God-given purpose. Some of us strive to fulfill it, while others might still be searching for it. Remember to stop each day, and think about what is really important. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Laugh at the ridiculous. Observe the hints of Fall all around you. Don’t put off spending time with the ones you love. We take nothing with us when we leave this world, and none of us know when that day will be. Steven Curtis Chapman sings, “But there’s more to this life than living and dying, more than just trying to make it through the day,” in his song “More to this Life.” I believe that we are supposed to work hard, but that we are also to live fully with joy and to love abundantly. Thankfully, God gave us a way to live beyond this physical life. So we have hope for better days, hope to see the ones we’ve lost, and hope for a future unlike anything we’ve imagined. Take time to care for your body and soul. 

Just a little Fall beauty in West Baden, Indiana. Had to share. Enjoy!

Weight loss - This is awesome!

Weight loss is something we all think about at one time or another. After age 40, I started to gain weight. I could skip meals, fast, eat healthy, and exercise, yet I still gained weight. I know, in the past, when I was in private practice, many women complained of the very same issues. I seriously started to become depressed as I started having to stuff my bottom into my jeans, because I refused to size up. Can you feel my muffin top pain? The slowing of metabolism, the slow fade of estrogen, and the choice of sleep over exercise have all contributed to my struggle with weight gain. Maybe you have the same depressing issue.

It all changed when a friend told me about ketogenic eating. I was really suspicious, because I don’t like supplements or vitamins. I’ve always believed that we get the nutrients and vitamins we need from our food. There have been a few studies showing that ketogenic diets have an effect on neurons and brain activity. Some children with epilepsy are treated with a ketogenic diet because it reduces the number of seizures they have. When I saw a small study done on the reduced number of migraine headaches in those with migraines, it got my attention. I have at least 16 to 18 migraines a month. I’m not going to quote any references here, you can find them in the medical literature. They are out there.

In a nutshell, ketogenic diets reduce circulating glucose and insulin. They reduce the production of glucose, so that your body starts generating ketones for energy. When this happens, you lose weight, inflammation in your body is reduced, and you have more energy.

I’ve chosen to change my diet, so that I limit my daily carbs to 20-30/day, but it’s not necessary. This ketogenic drink I have tried twice a day for over the last month can give you the ketosis you need for weight loss and reduced inflammation without you having to completely change how you eat. With my change in diet, I also lack certain vitamins and electrolytes. So first thing in the morning, I add Keto Kreme to my coffee. It’s delicious and gives me a burst of energy.

So far, I’ve lost 7 lbs without exercise, my jeans are loose on me (and it feels good), my migraines are fewer and less intense, and I have more energy. It’s pretty cool, so I need to 
tell you about it. You can go to the website and request a 5-day trial, if you’re interested. 

My opinion? It works for weight loss, more energy, elevated mood, and less intense headaches. I’m a fan. 
http://dashcarbs.drinkyoursample.com/

Can I get an Amen?

I know it’s afternoon for some of us, but I still enjoy a hot cup of java on a cool October afternoon. At the end of this month, I’ll be giving away a $25 Starbucks gift card. All you have to do is sign up to follow my blog by email and then “follow”me. Drawing will be held October 31 👻🎃. Thanks!!

More give-aways to follow!

How to make a fun fall lantern

Fun Fall Lantern Craft

What you’ll need (all items available at Amazon.com)

1. Mod Podge (we used the gloss Mod-Podge)

2. Ball half-pint canning jar (remove lid and discard)

3. Large brush set (We used Melissa and Doug)

4. An assortment of different colors of tissue paper cut into small shapes (we used squares) 

Mod Podge dries quickly, so paint one region of the jar at a time with it. Glue on the squares of tissue paper. Then do another region. Overlap the squares so that all areas of the jar are covered. When the jar is completely covered with the squares, paint a coat of Mod Podge over the tissue paper. Allow to dry. Insert a battery-operated tea light and enjoy the ambience. You can obviously make these for different holidays by changing the tissue paper colors. We will be making some for Christmas. You can add a ribbon for a little sweetness!

Fun Fall Lanterns - DIY

My 7-year old made these fun fall lanterns. It was a very quick project, since we used Mod Podge. It dries quickly (but it’s a little stinky until it dries). She gave one to her teacher as a Happy Fall gift. We put a small battery-powered tea light inside. See the next post for materials needed and instructions. 

My Baby children’s book

My Baby (Click on title to purchase).

Sara must prepare for a baby brother. She figures out 

the best way to be a good big sister.

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog! Thanks for joining me here for coffee, inspiring photos, and encouraging stories. Please feel free to follow me and post comments. I’d love to hear from you.