What inspires us?

                               

What is inspiration?

Without looking up le dictionary, for me I would say that it is something which touches me in a heartfelt way. To lead me do particular things, or be a certain way. Often, it is people who, usually unwittingly, inspire us. And tonight, I sent some hours with M'seiur Google, looking up one man's story. His odyssey, if you like. From being rich and famous, but very sick with addiction, and lost, to happiness and wholeness. And he comes back to our country, every few years, to pay homage to the time, place, and culture, where he had a life changing epiphany. And to inspire others to stop taking drugs. He has inspired so many to do just that. Wherever he goes.

                                     

Joe Walsh

We all know who The Eagles are. One of the greatest bands of all time. And Joe Walsh is one of the remaining original Eagles. Not many know that he lived in New Zealand after The Eagles disbanded, decades ago. Late 1980s. He performed with one of our much loved reggae groups: Herbs. Which is pretty amazing, within itself. Herbs was a predominantly Maori group.  Anyway, during this time, Joe was still full on immersed in the drug and alcohol scene. Because, hey, in those days, that was the rock performer culture.

Joe went with a Maori man to an historic site of an old Maori Pa. A Pa, you could say, is a Maori village. It's more than that, really, it's steeped in deep spirituality. But it's easier to understand as a village. And, in a moment of destiny, he had a moment in time, of  experiencing something different, his spirit was awakened. And he had a life changing epiphany: he had to stop (taking drugs and alcohol). He went on to do so, and has been free of them, to date, for 25 years. So inspiring.

What inspired me

These old Maori sites, they are full of deep vibrations. And that, in itself, is inspiring for me. Joe's story is mega-inspiring. But mostly, his humility and gratitude, for me, they are the most heartwarming inspiration of all. And his humility and gratitude for the Maori culture. Which was so evident on the videos that I watched (thank you, youtube).

We forget to be inspired 

Sometimes I feel that we forget that there is so much  to be inspired like that for. I know, when I'm having a crabby day, that I have completely forgotten how much wonderfulness that there is around me. I mean, really, anything can inspire. If we let it. Things which make our heart full, like Joe's story, most certainly. And so can a beautiful day. The wind rustling through the leaves on the trees (one of my favourite sounds). A child laughing. A bit of kindness. The list is endless.

Today, I am looking at all of these things that inspire me. I know that when we do this, we remember whom we are, what we want to stand for, what we would like to do, in the 'really matters' scheme of things. We remember our dreams, and hopes.

And so, I invite you to ponder: what inspires you?

It's not about the money

            
                  

Truly. It seriously is not about the money

I've often wished that I had money to buy expensive skin care and make-up, have hair salon colouring rather than usually doing it myself, have quality shoes, have expensive clothes, the best organic food. But in my heart, I do know that this is not the way to happiness. Nor self-worth. It might make us look and feel good, but, for so many of us, this is just fleeting. We are worth so much more than what money can buy us.

I am on a restricted income, and need to have money put aside for all the necessary things in life, like funds for car repairs, petrol, monthly bills, medical, etc, etc. It is much less stressful when money is in the bank to pay for all of these. I feel better when I can put some money aside. It stops me worrying.

But, when I am gifted something that I would secretly love, it is so special to me. I'm very lucky having two daughters, one who is older, and the other plus two granddaughters are thirtyish. They all know that there are some things that I would love to have. And they know exactly what suits me. (How lucky am I?)

They have given me: skin care, make-up, essential oil smellies, the full works at a hairdressers, clothes, shoes, handbags, winter wrap... the list is quite big! Over the past few years I have been the recipient of many lovely gifts from my family.

But, aside from these special happenings, what can we do to look and feel better? Some of the easy things that I regularly do, are:

• make myself look decent each morning. A little bit of makeup, nice clothes, not fancy ones, just nice, casual clothing. So that I am set up for the day 
• use what I already have, whether it's clothes, make-up, food. Whatever 
• I seriously try not to overstock the fridge and pantry. I get quite upset having to clean out unused food from the fridge, or being nervous that I am going to be ambushed by tins and packets crashing down on my head when I open the pantry. I just feel better about myself when I am not wasteful
• I aim to go for a walk outside every day
• I do some regular exercise. It's usually some yoga, but of late I've also been lifting light weights, too. I can't see any difference yet. Annoyingly

It helps if we have a way to reduce stress

I let the inner chit chat come and go, as often as possible. It just makes me feel better and less burdened. I really think that if we give credence to all of our thoughts, it just makes us crazy. I'm able to do this, routinely, as I've meditated for many years, but. And this is very big and important but. But, I also think that we can have a less frantic mind if we find out what suits us, to drop our stress. Whether it be going for a run, or working in the garden, having a hobby - whatever. As long as what you do reduces the inner chitter chatter. It doesn't have to be meditation nor mindfulness techniques. 

Little things matter, too

What else can we do, to look and feel great? Lots, actually. Because, it really isn't about the money. 

it's more about the way that we live our life

 It's about, just to name a few things:

• routines which make our life easier and pleasant
• living life in a way that we like ourselves. I'm talking about behaviour here. I often wonder how people can sleep soundly at night when they are not nice
• have a good attitude to life and towards others
• have someone to love, whether it's people, or pets

I know that everyone has their own story about what makes them feel better, in their life. And sometimes it's quite a good idea to readdress this, for ourselves. What do you do, for you?

A diet capsule

   

    (c'est moi - economical)

What is a diet capsule?

Which is so cute. What is it, and why have it? Anyone who has ever gone through periods of being in a position where money was very tight, will relate to this. It basically refers to a small but necessary (to oneself or the situation) capsule of food and drink items. Small because, well, one's money is small. 

But I think that it's a good idea anyway. Whether or not there is a lot of money. I've always done this. With my two eldest, when they were young, it was smoothie for breakfast, soup and bread, or salad and protein sandwiches made at the table, for lunch. Plus dinner. 

With my youngest, it was fairly similar. We were vegetarians and rotated several meals. But now, it mostly is just me to feed. And, for health reasons only, I am no longer vegetarian. Sometimes I eat with my flatmate, but we often eat at different times and have different needs. 

I often remember hearing of families who would have a particular rotation of meals. For example, roast on a Sunday; cold meat and a salad, Monday; chicken casserole Tuesday; and so on. To me that is a capsule. 

A capsule is (only) the most essential items. But tailored to the needs of. So, if it was a clothing capsule it would have the essentials which you need to wear, and absolutely love to wear. And that you use on a daily basis. And a food capsule is exactly the same. It's your essentials for daily eating. Preferably food which suits your needs, and that you enjoy. There will always be special occasions, but that is different. 

A diet capsule has bits and pieces that you always have on hand. Separate to The Basics:

• seasonings like salt and pepper
• when I was vegetarian we always had soya sauce for our tofu stir-frys, and fried rice, so it's bits and pieces like this that you use regularly
• base vegetables like onions, maybe garlic and ginger
• coffee and tea
• and similar

My diet woes

Because I know myself fairly well in regards to what suits my digestion and energy levels, I tend to stick with foods which 'go down well', and I avoid food which doesn't. As much as possible. But, I do have my naughty moments. Quite often. I looked after my daughters house and dog for two nights, recently. I found the chocolate. And the tortillas, and my favourite peanut butter. And availed myself of them. Good-bye chocolate. Goodbye tortillas.

If I eat starch midday, I can guarantee that I will get so sleepy that I'll need a sleep. Quick. Not a good look. But porridge first thing, doesn't do that to me, and having a little bit of starch about 2.30pm onwards is okay, too, if I have a small amount of protein with it. But I'll be honest, I actually want starch and sugar from midday to late. Once I start, I can't stop. So I have to watch it. It makes me exhausted when I eat too much sugar and starch. Even fruit and healthy bread I have to have in small amounts (sigh).

And that business of taking twenty minutes to eat so that you feel full? Forget it. I know that it takes me about thirty minutes after I've finished eating, and I am a slow eater, to actually feel as though I've eaten enough. 

When I was not sorted out regarding what I would eat, and at eating at regular times, my eating habits were not good. Unhealthy, really. Then, a few years ago, I actually read about writing down what one did like to eat, maybe six staples which you then make sure are always on hand. And also write down what you dislike, then make sure that you don't buy those things. I soon followed this advice and felt much better for it. I'm not a foodie, so I do have to put some effort into this area of life.

Enter my diet capsule

I have a rough food plan. Most of the time I follow it. 

• Breakfast: choice of eggs and toast; porridge; homemade soaked muesli; both with some LSA, or two slices of buttered toast and vegemite or peanut butter
• Lunch: I like vegetable soup in winter, with beans or lentils as a base, and a slice of Edam cheese.  So when it's cold, I make a fair amount of soup and freeze it for emergencies. I do need protein and vegetables for lunch. More often than not, though, I'll have either eggs or tinned salmon (which I prefer to tuna), and I buy a bag of little salad greens. When I had a garden, for two years, I grew heaps of greens and herbs. I miss that. 
• I have just started having afternoon tea. What is really want is a piece of cake. With icing and cream. Yes, I do. What I actually do have is dessertspoon of protein powder in milk. With a dessertspoon of brewers yeast (hey, I like it!), or red powder of 'superfoods'. I have it, then say to myself 'dinner isn't far away', because I'm still a tad hungry.
• Tea: protein and vegetables. Same protein choices as lunch. In a hurry or if the cupboards are bare, I use frozen vegetables, broccoli, peas and spinach, which is a folate mix for my blood thingey. If all else fails, and I want something warm in winter, well, I have some defrosted soup, with yummy toast. 
• I also drink far too much coffee. Note to self: coffee is not the new water.

Sometimes I'll splash out and make a chicken drumstick bake with roast vegetables, or a marinated tofu dish, or have a tiny piece of steak, for tea. Or go to the beach with some fish and chips, once in a blue moon. This week we have a slab of smoked marlin to eat our way through, from our brother-in-law (thank you, Len), who is the only true hunter gatherer I've ever met. 

So, looking at my menus, as an example, these are essentials which I always have:

• free range eggs
• vogels very, very thin bread
• oat bran (for porridge and muesli)
• small tins of salmon in water, which I buy 'on special'
• salad greens
• frozen folate mix
• coffee. I never buy Nescafe. (I avoid all Nestle products) Even though Nescafe is cheaper
• protein powder, either Clean (vegan) or Red8 (whey). Sometimes I'll add a dessertspoonful to my porridge
• Lewis Road lite blue milk. This is an organic range. 

Plus, some extras that I like to have on hand, but if I could only choose one, it would be vegemite:

• vegemite
• peanut butter
• brewers yeast
• red superfoods
• LSA
• red lentils
• a few pieces of fruit
• carrots, sometimes kumura
• Edam cheese (my favourite) 

How easy is all that? I reckon most of us eat like this, meaning with a diet capsule. In our own ways.

It's efficient and easy. It stops the supermarket angst, for me. Which is especially important, as I dislike shopping. 

What is your system? Your 'capsule'?

Being spoilt

                           

How have I been spoilt?

It is quite unlike me to spoil myself. I'm too much of a minimalist to do that, and besides which, generally speaking, I never found that my own happiness nor sense of self-worth, came from possessions, nor from buying things. And I am grateful that I am like this, as it makes life quite a lot happier for me. But like anyone else, I have my special secret 'wants'. Which I usually do not indulge myself in.

I do get spoilt. A lot. For example, my daughters and two eldest grand daughters often give me things that I have secretly wanted. Like skin care, and make-up. A beautician friend, Camelia Iordache, recently gave me a pedicure (purple toes. My favourite colour), when we did a healing (from me), and pamper, (from Camelia) swap.  

I gifted myself some of my friend Dhyana's face cream. I am in love with it. Dhyana always makes women feel and look good. I also bought myself one of her kimono-scarf thingies. I'm going to have to go somewhere to nonchalantly show it off. I feel so special in it.

                                     

I also had a 12 month's reading at the Gypsy Fair. I am reluctant to tell anyone this, really, as the next time they are in my local areas, this lovely lady might be too busy to fit me in, due to my recommendation. It was amazing, and it's looking as though recent difficulties, people and health wise especially, will clear. I've been to this lady before, and she is spot-on with her tarot readings. And whilst I was at the fair, I actually bought myself a black cotton over shirt with white embroidery. Quite unlike me. It is as though I've been going a bit mad with money.

A friend recently gifted me a reading with a clairvoyant.  Now, I do this myself. Give clairvoyant readings. But, I like to get clear on things for myself, in my own life. Particularly when things have been a bit fraught. It's up to me whether or not I believe what a reader says. But it was good. It was about other things than to do with the tarot reading, and it set my heart at peace. On the way there, out in the countryside, I had lunch with my son at an upmarket cafe. Which of course was so lovely.

Spoilt. Spoilt.

                                    

Not to forget the two lipsticks I bought, one with a discount, one at a cheap outlet. Always hues of the same colour: fuschia. Chuckle. So looking at my all of recent acquisitions, some things I might not actually be so minimalist with, after all.

Our local health shop is closing down, and I managed to have another spend. A mineral face powder, and brush, both half-price, and a free bronzer. Of course, I had to go back. Well, a person would have to, wouldn't they? For my fantastic iron tablets, and a pile of rose stuff. Rose is one of my favourite scents. Deodorant, rose hip oil, rosewater, mixed rose oils as a scent. I am in rose heaven.

I so had to get out of that shop quickly. With my two tops which a friend had given me that day.

Why be spoilt by moi-self?

Which, despite the way that it looks, is quite unlike me. I have made some life changing decisions, moving away from difficult situations. It feels good, I must say. I felt that I had to celebrate it. 

And, I am on top of a life-long health problem. Obviously cause for celebration.






p.s. This is not a sponsored post. No freebies in exchange, either.

More colour

                             

We all have our 'colours'

Whenever I wear blue, any shade, people compliment me. Which is ironic as it's not my favourite colour, and I do avoid wearing it. But, I have 'seen' blue, a beautiful shade of it, in my aura. Always. So there you are. It suits me because it's part of what I emanate, colour wise. And, when I was full-on into doing aura healing, I would realise that a colour or two would compliment someone. I recall a lovely lady who always wore a particular shade of soft teal, which was incredibly flattering on her. But, looking at her aura, I always felt that a tiny bit of soft red-pink shade in her clothing would balance her. Such an unusual thing to look at, I know, but it is something that I simply cannot help noticing.

Getting back to the colour blue, as another example: I have dark brown eyes and blue is very complimentary to brown. So that's another angle. Strange how little details like this can change how colour looks on us. I know from experience that I can only ever wear a muted shade of royal blue. Whereas when I was younger I wore strong, clear shades of colour. (the ole age thing, here). You will also have shades, hues, of your favourite colours which are best for you. Sometimes it really is just trial and error. The thing is, there are some colours that we just don't feel comfortable wearing. And some that we gravitate to.  

I have a friend, Dhyana Muir, who took me shopping years ago. We went to a big barn which sold second hand clothes (Savemart), as I was rather impoverished at the time. Dhyana spent hours going through the racks choosing garments for me. Determined to get me out of wearing black. Now, I didn't actually choose anything for myself, because I did know that she was way better than me at dressing people. Everyone for whom she ever sorted out clothes, hair, and make-up, always looked like the very best version of themselves. So, no way was I going to impose 'me' over her choices. Dhyana chose, and I approved. Happily. Actually it felt so special. 

Mysteriously, I did end up with quite a bit of black. But there were other colours which she chose, too. Some I would never ever, have looked at. But they all looked good on me. And felt nice, too. She did say one thing which I have studiously adhered to: 'no Nanna cardigans!' I wore those clothes that Dhyana chose for me, for years. Such is the power of someone with a good eye who can see us differently from how we think that we look.

As I write this, I am  realising that maybe I could let go of black. Just saying.

Have some base colours

Most of us have some neutral colours which we keep on buying, and which are like a canvas to put other colours with. Um, yes, mine is black. And I have been adding granite as another neutral. I just get depressed wearing browns so I don't go there. But there are lots of options:

• a friend wears creams through to warm browns as her neutrals
• beige, camel or grey, with olive, and cream or white
• soft grey and off-white
• navy and white or ivory
• black or navy, and grey, with white or ivory. If you add a few touches with some strong colours, you have the wow! factor going on
• vanilla, red, navy, camel - this could be a complete palette

                              

And your accent colours

Colour adds pizazz. Personality. And a flattering colour next to our face, is the easiest way to add it. For years, mine were turquoise and purple. Now it's shades of fuschia (also in my aura. True) and purple. I just feel more 'me' when I wear them. I once had this sheet of suggestions from a colour style place, which recommended black and white as neutrals for my colouring. The accent colours were bright red, emerald green. And bright yellow. The whole combination made me feel a bit sick, such is the power of colour on our whole being. I never used the info that sheet.

I don't get into the whole psycho-analysis thing with colour. I really dislike the way that we are over analysed and pigeon-holed by society.

Why not just use colours which make us feel good? And look good? Why not, indeed.



(please note that this is not a sponsored post)

Finding your unique style

                

How to find own your unique style

I had a period in my life when I expressed myself with how I looked. I liked doing that. I just loved clothes, but have never had many. And costumes. I love costumes. So it was natural for me to be creative in how I dressed. But, as happens to most of us, when life takes over with lots of responsibilities, and things which need to be done, spending some time on ourselves is no longer a priority. But now I do have that time. And knowledge. About myself. This can be expressed through our appearance, if we wish. I don't feel that this is so much a vanity thing, but rather it's self-expression. For me, anyway.

I tend to get stuck in a rut. Which I don't want to do. And I really don't always like the clothes available. But I had a shake-up after reading a fantastic book on style, much of what I already knew, and had mysteriously forgotten to do. I just loved the way that the women in the book dressed, I could so relate to all of them. Usually when I look at these books, and at magazines, I'm like: "you have to be kidding". And that is because, I believe, each country has it's own style of dressing. Due to money, ethnicity, climate, and the way life is lived. After all, New Zealand is a very casual country. Most of us would not look like someone, with hair, make-up and dress, who is from Mexico, California, New York, or London, for example. We all dress to suit our lifestyle.

And the book,  The Closet Stylist, by Anna Caselberg, is from my own country. That was why I enjoyed it so much. Every style of dressing in it, I loved.

                  

First up

So, I feel that this is the first requirement: does how you look, and dress, suit your life-style?

The tricky bit

Do your clothes flatter you? I wrote a course so many years ago, before there were lots of books around telling us how to analyse what does and doesn't suit us. Or, to be more precise, what is flattering on us. There are some easy factors that we can look at look at regarding looking good; colour being the easiest to start with.

Colour

When I trained, back in the days of yore, with Grace Cosmetics, as a Colour Consultant, it was all about skin tone. I learnt, in my training, that basically we are either warm toned or cool toned. And that some people are fairly neutral, meaning that they could wear colours from both warm and cool ones.

Nowadays that's been greatly changed so that there are sub-headings under colour types. All of those sub headings are just too difficult for me, personally, so I just ignore them, for myself. The easiest way that I know of to work out whether we are cool, or warm, toned, is by looking at our veins inside the arm, just above the wrist.

blueish veins = cool tones    greenish veins = warm tones

Our skin has hues

I do think that it's a lot harder when we have dark skin, or have a family history of hues of olive, brown, whatever you want to call it, from light to dark, because we then suit more vibrant colours. It seems to me, that even if there is just an undertone of olive, that many of us are a bit outside of the accepted rules about colour and colour types. Even if our skin tone fades (mine has), those sparkling, richer colours, are still more flattering for us, than softer, gentler colours. 

One of my grand-daughters has rich, deep, auburn hair. It is amazing. With a faint touch of olive in her skin. I am sure that if she was blatantly fair skinned, she would not suit the colours which she wears: deep, vibrant colours like mustard and rich browns, black, all are 'her' colours. They are striking, strong, colours, which, incidentally, go with her strong personality.

A modern colour stylist (which obviously I am not) would say that she suits deep colours. I do too. But hers are a bit warmer, except the black, and my deep colours are a bit cooler. Because BG ('beloved grand-daughter', in blog-speak) has such contrast in her colouring, somehow it makes sense when she echoes that contrast thing, with the colours which she wears. Soft, cool, pastel colours would even make her look a bit sickly. So, I suppose that it is also about intensity.

Whereas I, BG (this time it's about me. I know that I am her 'beloved granny') I know that there is not so much contrast in my colouring. So my deep, cool, colours look a bit more flattering when they are not so sparkling. A little bit muted, instead. Just the barest touch. So, I have a muted, or softer, intensity. Softer in this context is not about a pastel colour. It's something else.

Looking at, for example, apricot. A colour which is a warm tone. When it's very bright it's quite different to a softer version of it. Someone with a big contrast with their skin and hair, could wear a rich, deep apricot. Whereas, one of my daughters who is a lot fairer in colouring but has strong definition in her colouring, still with that most subtle, barely there, undertone of olive, could have a mid tone apricot. And a fair-haired, fair-skinned person with lovely soft, delicate colouring, could echo that in a soft apricot. 

I don't know if this is confusing. I hope not. And I hope that it helps with choosing colour.

The easy way to choose a colour

The bottom line is that if you hold a garment, or piece of fabric under your chin and look at your face, and you look a bit tired. Or your sunspots, freckles, wrinkles and other 'things' are more noticeable, then that is so the wrong colour for you. 

But if you look, well, pretty, then voila! it's the correct tone, the correct intensity, for you. It's a winner.

The Weight Loss Chronicles

                         


It Is Time To Sort Myself Out

I know that I have to sort out my diet a bit better. I've been allowing myself to be disorganised. Why should this matter? For me, and I can't talk for others, when I am disorganised, my eating is all over the place. I'll have bits and pieces that I wouldn't normally have, and I'll also eat too much.  And I was well aware that I was eating too much starchy food. And then my favourite, buff, french man, gave me (unsolicited) tips on losing weight. Which was both appreciated, and also a bit, you know, embarrassing. I knew then, I totally knew, that I had to change my diet.

The good news

The good news was that the weight which I have dropped, has stayed off. Which I am really happy about. I would, in all truth, be happier if much more had melted into the ether. But only one kilo more has. (sigh) Every now and then, that measly kilo likes to excite me, for good or bad, by going up a kilo, then back down again. It's difficult to handle this sort of excitement, if you know what I mean.

Eating out

And because of my tomato allergy, plus difficulties with most nightshades, when I meet up for lunch with a friend, then eggs it must be. Poached. I find that most cafes have tomato in most savoury dishes. If I'm not too sure about what sort of salad will arrive with my order (some actually have tomato infused oil, as a dressing. Designer dressing. Who would have thought?), I then just have toast with the eggs. I need protein in my diet, at lunch. Having said that, I now seldom go out for lunch.

And I do know that those calorie-heavy delicious lattes and flat whites, I should avoid them. Or even just have coffee out less often, which is of course, a far superior and do-able plan.

And dinner out? All intelligence goes out of the window, with this, for me. I have decided to be grown up and just accept this rather than fight it. Having said this, I seldom go out for an evening meal.

Finding My New Dietary Direction

And, whilst I was pondering. Okay, I was obsessing really, about what to do about my diet. I went with someone to check out the local op shops. I am not much of a shopper, so it was a politeness outing. But, I decided to see if there were any books that took my fancy. (still silently obsessing, in a most nutty way, though) I found a couple of old books (late 1990s). One was Body For Life by a body builder, a well known old book. The other was Fat Free Forever by Dianne Barker, now Dianne Wilson. Both books were somewhat similar, but actually also different.

However, I took these books to be a 'sign' for the type of food regime that would suit me and my needs. After all, there I was: worry, worry, think, think, and up pop these two old books.

I recall many years ago, two female body builders who used to come to my yoga class. Of course, I used to ask them questions about their exercise routines and their diets.  It was over twenty years ago, so that was before women were trotting off to the gym regularly, and also before lifting weights was accepted as the 'norm.' And I felt very privileged that my humble yoga class was one of their weekly workouts.

They both looked amazing. Of course. Not bulked up, just ultra feminine, and amazing.

They were both adamant about eating little and often. Being regular with one's diet. They both said that for body building, diet was most of it. I remember that one woman ate two Weetbix with a sprinkle of muesli for breakfast. The other said: 'you can have whatever you like, but don't have much (at one time)'. I could even have cheese on Ryvita crackers for afternoon tea . Or avocado. Cheese and avocado? Remember, the 1990s were when we allowed ourselves to be conned by the no-fat diets and dogma. I was fascinated. These two ladies really  'had it together' with diet. But, I didn't. I was still locked into the carb heavy, so-called yoga diet of the time. Virtually no fat, too.

Looking back, this was a total recipe for disaster. How could I have lost myself, my integrity, listening to all of that terrible and harmful dietary advice, cutting out fat? And eating bread, dhal and rice every day. But, I did.

Choose Your Hormone Problem

I read in Body For Life how eating little but often, really helps keep one's metabolism working well, as we get older. I haven't done this for a while, but I'm giving it a go. Apparently it's also great for reducing cortisol levels, cortisol being the stress hormone. Whereas, the latest info about diabetes 2 is that it is more helpful for regulating insulin levels, to eat less often. It all sounds a bit like: 'choose, or know, your hormone problem'.

I don't have any diabetic issues and have had incredible stresses in my life, so following the cortisol advice is better, I'd say: little but often.

So, this is the new direction. I shall keep you posted.