Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Come Join Me In The Studio
WitchAmy- Broadcast your self LIVE


I will be broadcasting live at 11:00AM each day that I can. Sometimes I will be working on crafting, sometimes I will be writing or editing.


There will be chat if you want to take part. You will have to register to chat.
I am giving you a full days' warning to get your ID and PW registration done, then come back Wednesday and see what I am up to.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Harry Potter Stories Come To Life In Orlando- spring 2010

It is really interesting to think that Universal studios is working on a Harry Potter Themed park to enhance their entertainment experience offer to the public.

Come Spring 2010 Universal Studios Orlando will have their HP theme park running.

Click HERE to see the podcast reveal.
Look on the middle left of the parchment to see the video.

Tom Felton is the official announcer.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Updates and Fun


I have worked very hard in the studio this past month and a half. I haven't done much social networking. I have been expanding my Motivated Motion Gallery and Etsy sites and I have been participating in a few craft chats and development EGroups to expand awareness for my crafting.

Please browse my craft blog to see all the news about how the Motivated Motion business is growing.

On the home front....well I have not been that well. This summer I tried to go un-medicated for my diabetes, and despite all of the positive work with weight loss and food programs to bring down my sugar (which I did bring down to normal readings).....my sugar is not stable. I can get it down and then it will suddenly shoot up for no known reason. The Diabetic clinic at Sunnybrook Medical Center had given me the summer to see what would happen if I was un-medicated as the very last pill form medication that I could take called Jenuvia had given me a bad reaction at the end of May and had me hospitalized. I am allergic to all pill forms of diabetic medication :( Metformin makes me deaf, Actos and Avandia cause my blood pressure to rise and my body holds too much fluid, and Jenuvia caused me a reaction like a stroke.

So my only alternative is Insulin. In June Carl and I went to the Clinic and had some instruction from the Diabetic nurse and Dietitian on the needle Pen.
Monday I go back to the clinic, and I will go on Insulin. I won't need much, and I won't need it all the time. But I will need it on unstable days.

For the diabetics out there, and those that understand this stuff I will explain what my sugar readings are like. First of all I am not average when it comes to being diabetic. Readings that other folks would be happy to have and may even be fine and normal for other folks cause my body great trauma. I was hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) until 2003, then I went the other way to diabetic (high blood sugar). I was warned that the hyperinsulinia I had the majority of my life would make the pancreas tired and I would eventually become diabetic. Plus I have multiple auto-immune diseases and one of them- Sjogrens attacks the pancreas and makes my pancreas and my digestive enzymes unstable.

My sugar readings that cause me exhaustion, very blurred vision, and edema are in the low ranges. I can have these reactions to the extreme if my sugar reading is 8mmol (which is in acceptable levels for a diabetic). I only feel fine and have all my energy at 6-6.9mmol.
My highest sugar days this summer with no medication were an average of 9mmol.
I only had one bad spike and it was 11mmol.
For many folks their sugars can run in the 8's every day and they could get 11mmol and just begin to get my extreme reactions at that time.
I figure my sensitivity has something to do with the fact that my whole life I ran like 4-4.6mmol and functioned well, so my poor body just can't handle the glucose.
The Hemagloben A1C test I just had was 8.1 my usual reading is 6.3 and this proves I cannot manage my diabetes without intervention.

Glasses

THE SUMMER OF DIABETIC HELL also effected my vision, and I now need reading glasses. I went to have my diabetic eye check and the eye Dr told me my eye irritation (burning and red) was due to strain because I needed glasses while doing my Needle Felting and Jewelry making.
So I have reading glasses ordered from SEARS at script 120 125
The good thing is there is no sign of diabetic arterial disease in my eyes.

How Am I Managing The Diet Now?

For over a year I used Dr. Poon's program. You can look it up on the net as Poon Diet (quit laughing). In December my Sjogrens acted up and effected my digestive enzymes. When this happens I have to go vegetarian for a while to give my pancreas a rest. If I am Vegetarian I cannot be on the Poon Diet. So Dr Poon gave me a sabbatical from the diet until my enzymes stabilized. Once I stabilized (around May this yr) I went back on the Poon Diet and my body wouldn't respond. It seems that if you unstabilize on his Diet it is hard to kick your metabolism into gear again. I still use a lot of the Principals of his diet when it comes to carb control, but I have moved on to another program that is working. I am using Dr. Gallup's GI diet. It is the one that divides foods into three groups (Red Light, Green Light and Yellow Light) Red foods are the bad ones, Yellow you have to watch out how much you take, and Green foods are unlimited.
Gallup's newest books are quick references and restaurant eating guides.
I want to say I have learned one thing through the years of weight control I have had to endure (because I can vary within 100lbs at any time of my life, sometimes I am fat and sometimes I am skinny and everything in between)is you need to change up your food programs often to keep your body responding. No food program can do it all for you. But you cannot do this food work if it is just to lose weight. Make yourself an expert in why you are on the food program and make sure that you keep moving the food programs into your lifestyle. It is important for obese folks to be eating for their health and no other reason. There is no room for guilt in eating. Never be guilt ridden for gaining again. Just get on the bandwagon and work on it.

Also never get yourself down when you're fat. (I am sorry I cannot say large or chunky or overweight. I am fat and I can't help it and I work on my health every day)The best way to feel good is to dress appropriately. You will never see me in a sweat suit. You have to be elegant. I don't spend tons of money on clothes. I buy classic styles and I do my best to wear a bit of makeup, pick an easy classy hairstyle, and dress so you feel like a princess in your heart. My friends don't even take notice of my weight, they spend time asking me questions about what I am doing or where did I get that outfit. I believe that is because I don't take notice of it. I know I am doing my best and if I am meeting all my medical requirements (cholesterol readings, good even normal blood pressure and the lowest sugars I can get) I am doing GREAT!

The difference between Poon and Gallup is Poon's diet has me eating no fruit and no grain accept for limited berries and MOD soy breads and no dairy. Gallup's diet gives me fruit, whole grains and limited dairy.


I enjoyed Poon's diet and I was very disappointed that my body wouldn't bounce back, but I am enjoying Gallup's diet because of the variety of foods in the veggie and fruit area that I can have.
I am also very thankful to have cheese back. I eat low fat baby belle Gouda and no fat sour cream, low fat cream cheese, and low fat feta.
I also was not allowed pulses on Poon's diet. Now on Gallup's diet I got back my Peas, Beans and Lentils. I am so greatful for that. I live on Hummus, avacado, and olives.

My typical food days are like this:
Breakfast: Scrambled egg white or poached egg.
One slice of whole rye sourdough toast dry

Snack: Gallup's apple oatmeal crumble (made from scratch-7min in microwave)
1 baby belle cheese

Lunch: Whole grain crisp bread of any kind if it has 3gr of fibre
Feta and Olives drizzled in a bit of olive oil
Hummus

Dinner: some sort of Loin meat stir fried
whole grain pasta or rice in pesto and olive oil
stir fried or raw veggie mix from fresh (Snow Peas, fresh beans, peppers, onion)

Snack: Silhouette Yogurt with oats on top or bran buds

I drink mineral water, black tea, unsweetened iced tea, or black coffee all day.

I also eat one square of 70% dark chocolate a day. (like in a Lindt bar)

Some Fun:

I have a Fan Page for my Motivated Motion Gallery on Facebook now. I am releasing the exclusive Gallery stuff on there first. So if you want the most up-to-date progress of my collection and special offers it will be on the fan page: It Would Be An Honour To Me If You Become A Fan


Speaking of Fans: If you have a Google account or you are a blogger you can become a fan of this blog or the craft blog in one click. If you have not become a fan yet, please do. I will return the favour. If I am not a fan of your blog yet send me a note in comments and I will become a fan of your blog or site.

Susan Boyle released her new album and Perez Hilton has got the exclusive on her first single release. You can hear her version of the Rolling Stones Cover: "Wild Horses" by clicking HERE. Susan also sent me a note saying she is performing on America's Got Talent this week coming! I believe America's Got Talent is on Monday this week.

Tom Felton told me he was getting an exclusive tour of Universal Studio's Harry Potter Theme Park in Orlando this weekend. This is under construction now. I am sure I will get news on that soon.