Heavenly Banana Muffins and Reclaiming My Life, part 3

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My dad has had high cholesterol his entire life.  He has a genetic predisposition, unfortunately, having watched his father suffer a heart attack when my father was just 9 yrs old.  My father later learned in his adulthood that he had inherited his dad's dysfunctional genes.  While my mom tried to cook healthy for my father and my sisters, she  never really mastered tasty healthy cooking.  My sister and father and I nicknamed some of her dishes for their atrocious delectable-ness..."vomit chicken" and "mish-mosh night" were terms we threw around my house on any given week.  Those nights we either scavenged after dinner for something more tasty or my father initiated the pizza call, making my sisters and I to be huge fans of the Pizza Police.  

Through all the healthy cooking that my mom attempted, my father seemed to secretly endorse eating habits that could only worsen whatever underlying hyperlipidemia he had.  My sisters and I loved taking my dad's car on trips and visiting his office because he always had a secret candy stash which we would raid, giggles and shrills of excitement swirled around us as the 3 girls indulged in chocolate and headed into candy comas.  The memories still make me smile

However, my father is now is in 60s and (while I do not want to go into specifics) is struggling to find a happy medium on his medication with his lifestyle.  Wanting my father to know what healthy delicious cooking is, I have decided to take matters into my own hands.  I begin with Heavenly Banana Muffins:

Heavenly Banana Muffins

(makes ~24 mini muffins)

1/2 c sugar

1/2 c margarine

1 egg

1t vanilla extract

1 c flour

1/2 c oats

1/2 c flax meal

1/2 t baking soda

1/2 t cloves (or 1/2 t nutmeg)

1/2 t cinnamon

2-3 very ripe bananas

3/4 c dark chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 375 deg F. Cream margarine and sugar.
2. Add eggs and vanilla to the butter/sugar mix.  Then add flour, baking soda, and spices.

3.Add bananas, oats, flax meal, chocolate chips.  Stir until well mixed.

4. Spoon into greased muffin holes and bake 10-12 min or until toothpick comes out clean.

Health benefits

• oats, flax meal - high in fiber with some protein and have been shown to help lower cholesterol
• cinnamon - a wonder spice which has been shown to help stabilize blood sugar levels, which is great for keeping you feeling sated
• bananas - high in potassium which is great for muscles and for de-bloating
• dark chocolate - high in anti-oxidants and also has been shown to help keep hunger away

Reclaiming my Life, part 3 - Mental/Spiritual

In addition to the physical steps I had been taking to get back to feeling like the Cynthia that I know at my core, I had started meditating.  Now, I know that many people struggle with accepting meditation as a treatment -whether that be medical or holistic - but the connection between mind and body has been documented over and over.  And, I know that my body talks to me - not only does it tell normal homeostatic things (hunger!; thirst!; stress!) but it also has led me to make some tough decisions because it knew before my mind knew what direction my life had to take. 

My mom had started meditating and sang its praises.  Like a typical mom, she constantly dropped hints to me on a weekly basis about how great she felt from meditation and that I should try it.  

Admittedly, I work in a high-stress job where I am responsible for other people as well as responsible for consulting on accounts worth millions.  I have been through a bit of personal turmoil - divorce, bad men, you know the drill...And, on top of it all, I had not been sleeping well for the last few months in 2009 which is what kick-started this detox/reclaiming my life.

I acquiesced....meditation?  why not?  In particular, I listened to: http://www.amazon.com/Guided-Meditations-Stress-Reduction-Bodhipaksa/dp/0972441425/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1266787351&sr=8-2.  

I can honestly say, even though I consider myself a pretty calm person, meditation has changed my life.  I feel calmer and am more accepting of whatever life throws my way, even though there is so much that I would like out of this lifetime (a loving partner, kids, professional fulfillment etc...). I am sleeping like a baby.  I am more conscious moment-to-moment instead of worrying about (fill in the blanks here).  My advice?  Just try it for a week, 30 min a day.  You, like me, will find yourself finding a connection with yourself, your loved ones, this earth and everything it has offer in a more meaningful and deeper dimension.