02/09/10 8:48AM

Happy Birthday to YOU!! :-)

sweet sister!!

by skidget at 02/09/10 10:17AM
OH MY!!!!!! A POST!! I AM SHOCKED! UTTERLY SHOCKED!!!

by adampual at 02/10/10 5:16PM
hey girl! miss you lots! how r ya?

by Lovemeforme at 02/14/10 3:27AM
hey babe! how are you doing?? glad you or adam were not involved in that airplane crash. That is scary.

I'm excited about a girls wknd w/ you and Julie sometime!! :-) Miss and Love you!!

by skidget at 02/21/10 5:14PM
I love you too!

by cathymoore at 02/27/10 10:26PM
Hope you can come!

by littlebitcab at 02/28/10 10:14PM
miss you too!! when r u coming to houston?

by Lovemeforme at 03/04/10 4:31PM
got your text. miss you too babe! Have you had time to look at Leah's website?? Love you!

by skidget at 03/05/10 9:48PM
:o) And the April camping trip is going to be so fun too!

by littlebitty624 at 03/15/10 10:19PM

07/07/09 3:48PM

I love surprise visits from friends while at work!! :D Makes me happy!

14-33 of 33 comments « prev 1 2 next »

YAY! You are here!

Hope to see you soon!

by tortilla at 07/19/09 2:07AM
She's my English Setter that's up at my parent's house.

by viarostultega at 08/10/09 3:47PM
Hi!

by cathymoore at 08/24/09 10:01PM
ash, we need updates :-) love ya girl!!

by skidget at 08/25/09 11:59AM
You were there tonight and then you were GONE! :/
I was so happy to see you and A coming in to study and that was all I saw of you!
You two are such newlyweds! So typical! :) And cute!
Maybe soon we can get together to just see and be!

by tortilla at 08/27/09 12:49AM
A lot has happened since 7/7!

by AlanL at 08/27/09 11:27AM
Me, too! I go there every chance I get. Now that you're in Austin, that's an easy drive for you! :)

by juliagulia at 09/01/09 3:39PM
Did you or Amber get the package?

by the_shadow at 09/17/09 6:08PM
I like surprises on WEd nite Bible study!
You are so beautiful!
BTW, I am still working on a present for you two! :/

by tortilla at 10/08/09 11:55PM
Ash, it is December 5. It has been 5 months since your last post.

by cathymoore at 12/05/09 9:43PM
Thank you for your prayers! I appreciate them so much!

by laughing_eyes at 12/18/09 9:52PM
Your profile picture is gorgeous

by laughing_eyes at 12/18/09 9:53PM
I HAVE TO SEE YOU BEFORE YOUR ANNIVERSARY! ETIQUETTE IS CREEPING IN ON ME!
I HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU TWO!!!! :)

by tortilla at 12/24/09 1:29AM
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! what do you know about the new barleans oil? the olive leaf complex? i got an email about it...have you tried it?

by ladyinwaiting at 01/03/10 12:44AM
Happy Anniversary!

by aggiechica at 01/03/10 3:08PM
Happy anniversary! :)

by windham4life at 01/03/10 6:02PM
Thanks! Some pretty special people I'm surrounded by!

by cathymoore at 01/10/10 6:21PM
aww, thanks! I got your email, but was at mama's. I will write you back very soon! Love ya!

by skidget at 01/16/10 10:30AM
Ashley, it's time to update. You have one week. And I'm not kidding.

by joelmoore at 01/21/10 5:37PM
hey ash!! how are you? did you get my email :-) miss and love!

by skidget at 02/04/10 2:52PM

06/04/09 11:12AM

Happy Birthday to my wonderful and beautiful mother! I am so thankful for her :)

18-37 of 37 comments « prev 1 2 next »

indeed!

by bah at 06/16/09 5:10PM
Psych! (I'm sure your link was white.)

by AlanL at 06/16/09 10:09PM
You're messing with my mind, aren't you?

by AlanL at 06/19/09 4:29PM
Mine too

by jenmurff at 06/19/09 4:42PM
Why does your name keep coming up "white"...but then your post isn't new?!

by beep_girl at 06/19/09 4:45PM
See you soon!! :)

by tortilla at 06/21/09 1:13AM
It was wonderful to see you and yours this past week. I should have told you how incredible you looked! I was too busy catching up with your mom-whom I love and adore! Glad you are sooo happy!!! love you

by justamom at 06/22/09 8:58AM
thanks!!

by cmvermont at 06/22/09 8:17PM
It's ok to cry!

by naturesensei at 06/24/09 3:17PM
you must be makiing secret posts that I can't read..... :)

by bah at 06/24/09 3:25PM
Yay! Can't wait! :)

by juliagulia at 06/25/09 10:59AM
Howdy podnah! This is Ashley Mc from Benchley! It was great to see you from a distance at Josh and Ellen's reception! Hope you and your hubby are doing GRAND! PS Im from the ATX! Don't you guys live thur?

by maryswanson at 06/26/09 11:41AM
I"m soo sad y'all are moving! but i know it will be a wonderful opportunity for you both and a way to grow & encourage Christians in the Austin area :)
I wish we could have gotten to know each other better! hopefully y'all will come visit!

by marcylyn at 07/02/09 5:47PM
Hello.

by AlanL at 07/03/09 11:08AM
I can't believe you are leaving! :-(

by sunshinelc at 07/03/09 1:02PM
Thank you!

by randall at 07/03/09 4:58PM
Guess I should publish the dead face :-)

by AlanL at 07/07/09 11:13AM
I love YOU :)

by adampual at 07/07/09 2:34PM
That's such a beautiful picture over there in the corner. You were gorgeous, I loved your dress!

by cmdl at 07/07/09 2:36PM
No you're a soy bean!

by alex at 07/07/09 2:46PM

Cracking the Metabolic Code

at 06/01/09 11:24AM

I am currently reading a book called Cracking the Metabolic Code written by James B. LaVALLE, R.Ph., C.C.N., N.D. There is an endless amount of interesting and vital information that I think anyone interested in health and wellness should read. Here is a piece from his book that I find helpful.

"Chronic stress alters adrenal gland function. Under stress, the adrenal glands produce more stress hormones such as cortisol. Rising cortisol levels begins a disruptive chain reaction that impacts several other organs and systems. Chronic stress depletes certain neurotransmitters in the brain, which can trigger carbohydrate cravings and eating binges. If this scenario continues the lack of the neurotransmitter can lead to disturbed sleep patterns, which in turn can cause changes in the release of growth hormone, blood sugar regulation, and immune function.

Chronically elevated cortisol levels can also cause increased insulin resistance, a condition in which the body does not respond to insulin efficiently, which in turn, can result in abdominal weight gain. If the person is eating the sugar and carbohydrates to quell the stress and to try to build the neurotransmitters, the insulin resistance is fed, which in turn perpetuates the weight gain. This vicious cycle of metabolic chaos can quickly cause an increase in body mass index (lean to fat ratio). Excess insulin leads to a weight gain that is characterized by most of the weight gained around the abdomen (or belly fat). Belly fat is known to contribute to inflammation in the body, resulting in even more destructive metabolic disruption.

Meanwhile, the elevation in cortisol also stimulates the production of extra cholesterol and triglycerides (a primary from of fat in the blood), which leads to increased cardiovascular risk. Cortisol also stimulates the production of neuropeptide Y, a chemical messenger, which turns off the body's natural killer cell activity, a critical component of a healthy immune system. In addition, cortisol lowers the production of other immune cells. And if that is not enough, cortisol itself stimulates the release of many inflammatory chemicals, which can cause synthetic inflammatory reactions that trigger increased free-radical damage of the cells (oxidation).

As the body continues to churn out more cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a hormone produced primarily by the adrenal glands, is used up in the process. Finally, with chronic cortisol elevation, changes in thyroid function begin to occur, which in turn lowers the body's metabolic rate and makes it more even difficult to utilize nutrients and to lose weight. This is how delicate and interdependent the balance of our body systems are and how any alteration in this balance can cause a cascade of reactions that leads to a decline in health."

I know I hear a lot about "cortisol" and after reading this I am able to understand it a little better. I hope this helps anyone that reads this!

Make today a great day!

So the key is to NOT WORRY! :-) Have you noticed that the word "belly" is showing up everywhere lately?

by AlanL at 06/01/09 11:33AM
EXACTLY! And to deal with any stress you might have in a good way. I have noticed! Belly this..belly that...

by iheartshoes at 06/01/09 12:21PM
BOO worry and belly fat!! At least I have the Hakuna Matata part down :)

by adampual at 06/01/09 12:39PM
That must be my problem, lol. Though tummy fat has never been my problem..

by firefaerie at 06/01/09 12:47PM
Yeah, stress affects SO many things, and never in a good way!

by littlebitty624 at 06/01/09 12:48PM
Booooo stress!

by alex at 06/01/09 2:15PM
Very interesting! I love learning about health and nutrition! :)

by jenmurff at 06/01/09 2:21PM
It's littlebitty624@yahoo.com

by littlebitty624 at 06/01/09 3:29PM
I love YOU, Beefee!

by adampual at 06/01/09 5:51PM
I'm definitely a stress eater. Boo stress.

by ambre at 06/01/09 9:49PM
We had a great time in Alice. I hope to go back ASAP!

by jenmurff at 06/01/09 10:51PM
great, you just gave all the people suffering from chronic stress something ELSE to worry about

by cmvermont at 06/02/09 12:14AM
Thanks Ashley!

by lw at 06/02/09 10:25AM
Stress is aweful in so many ways!

by windham4life at 06/02/09 11:09PM
I have belly fat!!!!!!! Nooooooooooooooo!

by larry at 06/03/09 10:30AM