Destination Recover(ed): Day 677

Thanksgiving was pretty awesome this year. In the past it has always been a chaotic time. Ever year I intend on arriving at my Dad's early in the morning so I can feel like I got to spend enough time over there before having to leave to go to my Mom's for second Thanksgiving (which is a fucking nightmare if you have an eating disorder. As if ONE Thanksgiving dinner isn't traumatizing enough). I never want to leave my Dad's house when it comes time to go and I always wish I had gotten there earlier so it could feel like I stayed longer. So far this has never happened. I'm always running late. If I want to be at Dad's by 9am it's almost guaranteed that I will actually make it there around noon. We do a pot luck Thanksgiving at my Dad's. Dad and Mom always do the turkey (this year they deep fried it. *Awesome* fun times not blowing the house up!) and stuffing and then everyone else brings a side dish. We sign up on the list. It's fun. I made fresh from scratch (NOT from a can) green bean casserole and also fresh homemade cranberry sauce (plus I brought the kind in a can for my sister, who loves it). This year I was ready! This year I was on schedule! Car loaded Thanksgiving Eve, ready to roll out of my driveway at 7am to drive from Stanwood to Shoreline to pick up my friend Natalie by 8am and then make the 1.5 hour drive to my Dad's arriving around 9:30am! No muss, no fuss, no chaos, no anxiety. 
Per usual I was late this year ... BUT not as late as the previous years, so we're making progress already! Last minute I decided to  prepare everything for my Mom that she wasn't able to get done because she was working back to back to back to back schedules at work. I think it's awesome that my Mom is the big head honcho where she works but it requires an obscene amount of her life, especially during the holidays where she is on blackout and isn't allowed to take days off and her company requires that she work until midnight on the eve of eves, and eves of holidays, and then turn around and be there at 4:00am the following mornings. So I felt bad this year and prepped all her food and recipes. I got in my car by 9:00am to go get Natalie. 2 hours late. DEAD FUCKING CAR BATTERY. Apparently when I loaded my car up before I went to go to bed (aka watch a movie because I actually didn't sleep for one second that night) I left the light on above the console. Awww MAN! Are you effing kidding me?! Unfucking believable! :::*pouty face*::: Mom to the rescue (which is completely out of character and uncommon for my Mom). She hands me her keys and says, just replace the gas so I can drive to work in the morning. OMG, am I actually going to be THANKFUL for my MOM this year?! Keys in hand, food and supplies transferred, on the road. I picked up Natalie, and after making a few stops (Walgreens and QFC for the alcohol my Mom called to see if I could pick up) We were at my Dad's house 11:45am. Record Time. I may or may not have sped, but the fact that there was absolutely NO TRAFFIC may have also contributed. And the best part? We were the first to arrive! Everything else basically went off without a hitch, not exactly on schedule, but whatever, family was together, we food was eventually cooked and everyone was set at the table. We started a new Thanks Giving tradition, too. Normally we would go around the table and each give thanks for what we were thankful for that year, but this year was different. This is the first Thanksgiving since my grandpa passed away on December 1st last year. Last year he wasn't present at the table because hew as in the hospital, but we were all kind of in an emotional cocoon last year, everything was awkward without grandpa who was the always the Turkey Carver and giver of thanks and Grace sayer. This year, without grandpa, we started new traditions in his memory and it was beautiful and sad and I cried at the table. Mom carved the Turkey this year (because my DAD doesn't know how to carve a turkey and pulled out the power tools, so Mom took over). My sister Rashel was home this year after a very long year of her taking off to find herself. Dad & Mom weren't wrought with the pain of dealing with Rashel's absence and grandpa's last few days. My Sister Crystal is pregnant with my nephew, Jonah, and she is so beautiful at 8.5 months pregnant (and always) and her and her husband are so happy. My other sister, Shannon wasn't going through (and as everything panned out, never went through) a divorce. We weren't in the emotional turmoil of being at the hospital every single day for a month to be with grandpa and see him so ill. I wasn't just discharged from the hospital, the same hospital and subsequently the exact same room as my grandpa. Grandma wasn't crazy, or withdrawn from the grief. We were OK. We made it through the year. We survived. We had an abundance of love and reasons to be thankful this year. We do every year. I have an amazing family, and not just at holidays. I gave thanks for that this year. I gave thanks that I know we are not "normal" in the way that my siblings talk to each other every day and my sisters are my best friends. I gave thanks that we say I Love You when we see each other on holidays as well as Tuesdays or because it's a Saturday. I gave thanks that I can send my Dad a text at 4am on Monday morning because I just felt like telling him I was thinking about him and he'll text me back and say he loves me and thanks for making his day. I gave thanks that I can open my email and see a random message from my grandma that she loves me and "That Is All". I gave thanks for Scarlett and Sandy for their patience, unconditional love and belief in me. And I gave thanks that for this day, I was able to be present in my life and not worry about the food I was giving thanks for. I was able to engage in conversation and comprehend when people talked to me. I gave thanks that I wasn't bundled up in blankets, looking gaunt and dead, just trying to make it through sitting at the table because I didn't have the strength to hold myself up and the chair was so painful to sit on because my bones protruded and there was nothing to protect them. I gave thanks that my mind wasn't cluttered with my eating disorder, although it was still present it wasn't loud, and it wasn't in charge. Another day with my eating disorder so present is what I strive for. It's my proof of my recovery. It's the bounty of all the hard work and the painful days. It's something tangible that I can say OK, so this is what it's like. Now I know. It's not just like working your ass off doing the the fucking impossible without a clue of what you're actually working towards ... you can't miss what you don't know, and I feel like sometimes I'm just working blindly, not knowing what exactly the payoff really is going to be, other than this "word" recovery ... which means "not dying" "healthy" "not sick" but you don't know what the FEELS like, you just know that you don't want to die, that you don't want "this" anymore, that you're tired of fighting, that "something" has to change. Recovery. You just want recovery. So you do the work. You cry the tears and you scream because it's hard. Some days it's impossible. And you fight, anyway. But you don't know what it's going to be like. You're taking a giant fucking leap of fate, feet first without knowing where you're going to end up ...  I suppose it's like a blind person trying to imagine color. How do you do that? Where would your brain go to know what the color RED is if you've never seen it before? I decided to blog about this because for one day, for one meal, I was free. Whether or not I decided to eat or try food, it didn't matter. I was thinking about my family, present, engaged in conversation, laughing, crying, being alive. This is what it's going to be like to be recover(ed), and while I may be a long long ways from recovery, I am recovering.

World Diabetes Day, We're Celebrating with a New Location!

19940 Ballinger Way
Shoreline, WA 98155

Fitness Trainer Position Available

FitnessTrainer Position Available

AboutRamey Nutrition: 

Locatedin Seattle’s University District, Ramey Nutrition is a nutrition clinicoffering individual and group nutrition counseling, support groups, yoga, andfitness. We take a patient-centered approach by listening to patient needs,providing nutritional and emotional support and individualizing treatment forour patients.

Whileour current patient services primarily consist of Eating Disorders treatmentand recovery, as well as Diabetes management and weight-management, it is ourdesire and goal to build a strong enough team to assist any patient with any movement-relatedissue.   The Movement Specialist at RameyNutrition will play a vital role in our growth, by providing compassionate,genuine, honest, and unwavering support to promote a full and life-long healthand strength.

JobDescription

•        Workpositively and compassionately with those that are unable to move or have nopast experience with movement
•        Workwith our patients on site, training in Seattle, then moving up to Shoreline,when appropriate.
•        Performindividual movement sessions appropriate to a person’s fitness level but alsowork together with a nutritionist to create a team to help our clients reachtheir unique goals.  It is possible we wouldalso have you teach group classes.
Applicantsmust have a college degree and experience in teaching or participating indifferent fitness styles.  Examplesinclude cross fit, yoga, traditional personal training, boxing, dance or otherclasses.  Our patients range from adecent fitness level to very low levels of movement with little to no priorexperience with fitness. Because of this we are requiring a trainer who ispersonable, accountable and patient.
Tobegin with you would work out of the University District in Seattle buteventually be mainly working in the Shoreline area?

MinimumQualifications

•Bachelors Degree

•Experience working in movement, and a strong desire to work with those needinggentle movement

•Ability to work well independently with little to no supervision

•Excellent listening and communication skills

•Strong therapeutic, movement, teaching, and leadership skills

DesiredQualifications

•Familiar with different levels of fitness and movement

•Practical experience in motivational movement

•Ability to prioritize work and handle multiple tasks

•Experience in and comfortable with leading groups

*Ifinterested in position, please send resume, cover letter Bonnie Atkisson at bonnie@rameynutrition.com

Exercise May Delay Early Aging of People With Diabetes

Fitness training improves their cardiovascular health, preliminary study finds


FRIDAY, Oct. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Regular exercise may slow the premature aging of the cardiovascular system that occurs in people with type 2 diabetes, according to new research.

A healthy adult loses about 10 percent of fitness with each decade of life after age 40 or 50, but research shows that fitness levels in people with type 2 diabetes are about 20 percent lower than in healthy adults.

This accelerated loss of fitness increases the risk of early disability and death, said Amy Huebschmann, of the University of Colorado School of Medicine, and colleagues.

"Not only do these patients have more trouble with exercise ... but also with activities of daily living, such as a simple stroll to the corner store," the researchers said in an American Physiological Society news release.

The investigators confirmed other research, however, that has found that regular exercise can slow premature cardiovascular aging in diabetes patients. The findings suggest that their fitness levels can improve by as much as 40 percent after 12 to 20 weeks of exercise training.

"In other words, these defects are not necessarily permanent," Huebschmann said. "They can be improved, which is great news."

Regular exercise, however, does not restore diabetes patients' fitness levels to those of healthy adults, according to the findings. The research was presented last week at an exercise conference in Colorado sponsored by the American Physiological Society, the American College of Sports Medicine and the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology. Data and conclusions presented at medical meetings should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed medical journal

Although exercise can benefit diabetes patients, it may be difficult for them to achieve the recommended 150 minutes per week of moderate exercise. Huebschmann and her colleagues are working on ways to help diabetes patients reach their exercise goals.

"Type 2 diabetes has a significant negative impact on health, but that impact can be improved with as simple an intervention as regular brisk walking or other physical activity that most people with diabetes can do," Huebschmann said.

More than 8 percent of the U.S. population has diabetes, mostly type 2, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With type 2 diabetes, the body can't properly process glucose, the main type of sugar in the blood.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains how to stay healthy with diabetes.

New Day Northwest Features Ramey Nutrition!

Ramey Nutririton is on New Day Northwest!

Get Ready for Beyond Type 2!

Get Ready for Beyond Type 2!
Starts January 2013 with Kaitlin Todd, RD, CD!
http://www.rameynutrition.com/beyond-type-2-diabetes-program

First Rule of Fight Club....

Welcome to Fight Club – with Ramey Nutrition!
Fight Club is an 8-week program for men designed to tackle the toughest obstacles on the road to wellness. Facilitating a community of support, Fight Club directs members to honestly identify what they are fighting for (or against) and confront their current strategies and tactics for achieving victory.
Kaitlin Todd, RD, CD will lead group talk time on Mondays from 5:00 to 6:30PM followed by Boxing to release issues and regain power physically and emotionally, which will be led by Jason Steele from 6:45 to 7:30PM.
What’s been holding you back from the passions in your life?
Maybe you’ve had a heart attack, stroke, knee replacement or back surgery and have been challenged by unexpected physical limitations?
Maybe your daughter has been restricting her food intake for years and struggling to recover from Anorexia?
Maybe you consider yourself incredibly disciplined with your food and exercise plan Monday through Friday, only to find yourself binging on “forbidden” foods on the weekend?
Perhaps you go out of the way to avoid the mirror because you are disgusted by what you see in the reflection?
Maybe you openly joke about your shape or size only to beat others to the punch line?
Kaitlin Todd, RD, CD will lead group talk time on Mondays from 5:00 to 6:30PM followed by Boxing to release issues and regain power physically and emotionally, which will be led by Jason Steele from 6:45 to 7:30PM.

18 Surprising Dairy-Free Sources of Calcium: by Laura Schwecherl

18 Surprising Dairy-Free Sources of Calcium

by Laura Schwecherl 

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Fun fact: Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body, and is found naturally in a wide variety of foods and beverages and added to many others! (Hellooo orange juice.) But whether lactose-intolerant or sick of wine and cheese parties, there’s no need to rely only on dairy products for that daily dose of calcium. Here’s why we should get enough calcium — and all the unexpected ways to get enough of it.

Beyond the Dairy Aisle  — The Need-to-Know

It’s no secret that calcium is vital for strong bones and teeth, but boy does it go beyond just that. This mineral also helps the body maintain healthy blood vessels, regulate blood pressure, and even prevent insulin resistance (which could lead to Type 2 diabetes)^[1]. Adults should consume about1,000 mg of calcium per day (which you can easily in 24 hours from one glass of skim milk, one thick slice of cheddar cheese, and one cup of plain yogurt), yet most Americans still fail to meet the mark. According to one survey, only 16 percent of females ages 20 to 29 females get enough calcium!!!^[2].

The main calcium contenders are milk, yogurt, and cheese, but dairy shouldn't be the only dietary pit stop to fill up on this nutrient. Leafy greens, seafood, legumes, and fruit also contain calcium and many foods and drinks are fortified with the mineral. Just remember to try and pair non-dairy sources of calcium with vitamin D: The body needs vitamin D to help absorb calcium!

Craving Calcium? — Your Action Plan

Here’s a list of foods and beverages filled with calcium (no cows required!), along with recipes to help make them an everyday occurrence in a variety of meals.

Natural Calcium

Most Americans aren’t get enough nutrients through natural foods alone, and rely on enriched foods and supplements too^[3]. So sail down the grocery aisle and stock up on these items, au natural!

1. Sardines: 321 mg (32% DV) in about 7 sardines fillets
There’s nothing fishy about sardines — they are one of the healthiest fish to munch on! Along with calcium, they also provide a hefty dose of omega 3’s and vitamin D. Try adding them to a Greek salad or eat em straight out of the can.

2. Canned Salmon: 232 mg (23% DV) in ½ can with bones (which provides the calcium!)
To avoid putting a dent in the wallet, canned salmon is a great way to go. Here’s the catch: It’s the bones in canned salmon that hold all the calcium, so they need to be mashed up right along with the salmon meat for all the benefits! But don’t get turned off just yet — the canning process softens the bones so they easily break apart and are unnoticeable when mixed in with the rest of the can’s contents. For a boost of calcium and omega 3’s, try these salmon cakes.

3. Kale: 188 mg (19% DV) in 2 cups raw (chopped)
This superfood is filled with calcium and antioxidants, and is perfect to use as the base of any salad when shredded into thin strips. A kale salad with apricots and avocado is a perfect summer dish.

4. Black-eyed Peas: 185 mg (18% DV) in 1/2 cup canned
I gotta feeling this is not just a band. These beans are filled with calcium, potassium, folate, and more! Skip the fat-filled mayo and whip up this black-eyed pea spread to pump up any sandwich or appetizer.

5. Blackstrap Molasses: 172 mg (17% DV) in 1 tablespoon
When the sweet tooth strikes, it’s best to go the natural route. Blackstrap molasses is darker in color and richer in flavor than regular molasses, and is filled with calcium, iron, and other vitamins. Plus, it’s a great sweet and flavorful addition to many dishes. Drizzle some on pancakes, or use it to make brown sugar.

6. White Beans: 191 mg (19% DV) in 1 cup canned
Creamy and light, these legumes are a great source of calcium and iron^[4]. Add them to a pasta dish with veggies, or skip the chickpeas and make your own hummus with white beans.

7. Seaweed: 126 mg (13% DV) in about 1 cup raw
Fish aren’t the only, well, fish in the sea. Seaweed is full of calcium, fiber, and iodine, which helps with proper thyroid function^[5][6]. Bring a bowl of risotto up a notch with this seaweed recipe. Feel like keeping it classic? Try your hand at a classic miso soup.

8. Dried Figs: 107 mg (10% DV) in 8 whole dried figs
For a sweet treat, this dried fruit packs an antioxidant, fiber, and calcium punch^[7]. Eat em as a mid-day snack, or turn these delicious dried fruits into a creamy jam.

9. Turnip Greens: 197 mg (20% DV) in 1 cup cooked (chopped)
This leafy green comes from turnip bulbs, and is filled with calcium, antioxidants, and folate, which could help improve mood. Sautee them as a side dish, or spice things up and make a turnip tart!

10. Sesame Seeds: 88 mg (9% DV) in 1 tablespoon
These unassuming seeds are more than just a hamburger bun decoration. Sesame seeds can help lower blood pressure, reduce inflammation, and may even fight against certain cancers. Use their nutty crunch in a salad, or add to this sautéed spinach dish.

11. Bok Choy: 74 mg (7% DV) in 1 cup
This versatile Chinese cabbage provides a hefty dose of vitamins A and C, along with calcium and fiber. Stir-fry bok choy with garlic and olive oil for a perfect side dish.

12. Almonds: 72 mg (7% DV) in ¼ cup dry roasted (about 20 nuts)
You’re nuts if you don’t grab a handful of almonds every now and then! They’re the most nutritionally dense nut, packing a crazy amounts of nutrients per calorie and ounce. Aside from calcium, they also contain potassium, vitamin E, and iron. Sprinkle on a salad or make your own almond butter. Just watch out for portion size!

13. Oranges: 65 mg (6% DV) in 1 medium fruit
Orange-you glad we included oranges?! Full of vitamin C and calcium, enjoy this fruit as a mid-morning snack, or use its citrus flavor to brighten up any dish, like these honey-orange carrots.

Fortified with Calcium

Fortifying foods with calcium has become a popular way to help people consume a balanced diet, but some studies do suggest eating foods with naturally occurring nutrients is the better route to take^[8][9][10]. So just make sure you’re not only reaching for the fortified kinds!

14. Firm Tofu: 861 mg (86% DV) in ½ cup
We know what you’re thinking: What exactly is tofu? This meaty textured vegetarian alternative is actually made of dried soybeans that have been grounded up and boiled. It’s a great way to add lots of protein, little fat, and (of course) calcium to any meal! What’s on the dinner table tonight? Try thiscaramelized tofu.

15. Orange Juice: 500 mg (50% DV) in 1 cup
In moderation, fruit juice is a perfect pairing for morning pancakes or eggs! Enjoy a tall glass for calcium and vitamin C, or pour over a salmon fillet.

16. Soymilk: 300 mg (30% DV) in 1 cup
Cows milk not your cup of tea? Soymilk isn’t actually milk, so is a great option for people who are lactose intolerant. It also contains more protein than regular milk. Pour in a morning bowl of cereal or add to coffee with some cinnamon.

17. Instant Oatmeal: 187 mg (19% DV) in 1 cup
Many cereals and grains are now fortified, including our favorite morning breakfast. And while the instant kind doesn’t boast the same benefits as old-fashioned rolled oats, they’re a quick breakfast option that’s full of fiber and calcium. Just choose the kinds without added sugar!

18. Cheerios: 114 mg (14% DV) in 1 cup
They’re touted for helping lower cholesterol, but Cheerios also pack a significant amount of calcium into our cereal bowl. Enjoy with skim or soy milk and sliced strawberries, or in home-made trail mixfor extra crunch.

FIGHT CLUB!

Ramey Nutrition Presents FIGHT CLUB!

Fight Club is an 8-week program for men designed to tackle the toughest obstacles on the road to wellness. Facilitating a community of support, Fight Club directs members to honestly identify what they are fighting for (or against) and confront their current strategies and tactics for achieving victory.

Kaitlin Todd, RD, CD will lead group talk time on Mondays from 5:00 to 6:30PM followed by Boxing to release issues and regain power physically and emotionally, which will be led by Jason Steele from 6:45 to 7:30PM.

FIGHT CLUB

Monday, October 29^th from 5-7:30pm

Monday, November 5^th from 5-7:30pm

Monday, November 12^th from 5-7:30pm

Monday, November 19^th from 5-7:30pm

Monday, November 26^th from 5-7:30pm

Monday, December 3^rd from 5-7:30pm

Monday, December 10^th from 5-7:30pm

Monday, December 17^th from 5-7:30pm

We will be available to support you during group and between groups by phone, email, and/or individual appointment. Individual appointments are not a part of this Fight Club group, but will be scheduled as recommended by your dietitian.

What’s been holding you back from the passions in your life?

·         Maybe you’ve had a heart attack, stroke, knee replacement or back surgery and have been challenged by unexpected physical limitations?

·         Maybe your daughter has been restricting her food intake for years and struggling to recover from Anorexia?

·         Maybe you consider yourself incredibly disciplined with your food and exercise plan Monday through Friday, only to find yourself binging on “forbidden” foods on the weekend?

·         Perhaps you go out of the way to avoid the mirror because you are disgusted by what you see in the reflection?

·         Maybe you openly joke about your shape or size only to beat others to the punch line?

Kaitlin Todd, RD, CD will lead group talk time on Mondays from 5:00 to 6:30PM followed by Boxing to release issues and regain power physically and emotionally, which will be led by Jason Steele from 6:45 to 7:30PM.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding Fight Club or any other service we offer, please do not hesitate to contact us at:

                Phone: (206) 909-8022

                Email: Kaitlin@rameynutrition.com

 

Ramey Nutrition Website

Fitness for All!

Fitness For All
@Ramey Nutrition every M, W, F at 6PM
Come one, come all!
http://www.rameynutrition.com/movement-therapy

Fitness for All!

We are getting pretty serious here at Ramey Nutrition with our strength building work outs! Below are some ideas for those wanting some suggestions about how to balance food around Jason's killer workout. Adapt these to your taste first, THEN your health.