A Free Range Life

First, I need to share that there is a new link to Astroctyoma Options on the blog (upper left hand corner). The tricky part is that you won't see it if you typically read the posts on a cell phone. Unfortunately, the blog has a different format that shows up when when accessing it mobile-y. I don't know how many people read the blog from their phones, and I don't know how to combat that issue so that everyone can see the links. If you read the blog from a typical computer you will see the link.

Also, I would like to share that Stephen worked with his fabulously talented brother to create Astrocytoma Options. Stephen did the verbiage, and his brother Michael did all of the website design. Pretty smart dudes. Michael clearly has an eye for design, and although I've never met him or corresponded, after checking out his design website, I immediately fell in love with his honesty, and humor. Not to mention his aesthetic. It looks like he's currently taking on new clients, feel free to check his design company Free Range Designs. His website is so cool that you'll enjoy surfing his site even if you aren't in the market for web design. Actually, he's so good that it will make you want to have your own website, even if you don't have anything to promote. He's that good.

On another note I have some super sweet news. I was contacted by a neighbor, here in Green Lake. The gentleman saw the Komo 4 News segment on our dear stolen Buddha, and brought his over. I now have a happy little Buddha to join me on my journey. I am continuously reminded by how wonderful people are. Even just today I had a comment on the old Buddha blog post with a wonderful family who was offering their Buddha. It's incredibly kind how many people have cared so much about my silly little theft-ipsode.

Here's a photo of our newly beloved Buddha: He's a cutie!

He seems a bit more pensive than my last Buddha, so maybe it will spur more depth in my thoughts. 

Also, from the weekend I'm sharing a fun photo from Saturday night. The colors, the scenery, the friends, it's just fun. Dan had his hands full! What a chap to escort us crazies around town. Not to mention he's a pretty great photographer.

Also, to sweet Maleka, thank you for the gift certificate to get my hair done. I actually have a hair-do now! It's so fun!! Gone are the days of my reverse mohawk! Thank you, thank you, thank you. I appreciate you very much. 

Clearing Cobwebs

I am having so much fun this morning! I've been reading through my buddy's new website. He's been working on it for months, and it is FABULOUS. It helps us brain tumor fighters make sense of research studies, explaining things for us non-scientific minded people. I'm over simplifying, of course, but the website is just crazy exciting. It's so informative, concise, and helpful.

My buddy Stephen, with his new breakthrough website, is always helping me understand things. We bounce ideas and theories, it's a lot of fun. On top of researching, our email conversations often remind me of things that I've forgotten. One of the latest, exceedingly exciting helpful details that had skipped my mind, is about diet. I forgot about one of the first research studies I conquered dealing with calorically restricted diets. It dealt specifically with the standard American diet, and the ketogenic diet. It then went into restriction of both and the effect on controlling cancer cell growth/brain tumor growth.

I have been constantly beating myself up because I am not capable of staying on the restricted ketogenic diet. Rereading through it, though, reminded me that technically, restricting the standard American diet actually led to lower tumor weights (as opposed to the restricted ketogenic). Of course, the study was conducted with mice - not humans, but that's mostly how they're deducing the effectiveness of the KD-R. Here's a graph from the study, if you click HERE or on the graph itself, you can read the whole thing.

Sometimes I get caught up in a concept, forgetting other contradicting info that I've read. I feel so relieved to be able to drink my green smoothies in peace, without guilt. All I want to do is make the best decisions for my health, but sometimes all of the info coming into my mind gets jumbled, and disorganized. I remember choosing the ketogenic diet because of the seizure activity in my brain, I saw the restricted ketogenic diet as a tool to hit two birds with one stone. However, as you know, the restricted ketogenic diet makes me miserable. My body craves veggies. I love them.

So finally, I have come full circle, I am back to green smoothie heaven. And I don't even have to feel bad about it. And as it goes, restricting calories is a lot easier to do when you can fill yourself with lots of big leafy greens. To celebrate I just blended up an old trusty favorite for brunch.

Old Trusty
2 large kale leaves - stems removed
1 small frozen unripe banana
water to the consistency you prefer
1 tablespoon orange flavored fish oil