rubylamoureux

[rubylamoureux]

Being an empath comes with its unique challenges, especially when it comes to self-confidence. As someone who deeply feels the emotions and energies of others, it can be overwhelming to navigate a world filled with so much intensity. This sensitivity often leads to self-doubt, as we may constantly compare ourselves to others or feel the weight of their struggles on our shoulders.

The journey to self-confidence can feel like a steep climb. We might question our worth or struggle to assert ourselves in situations where we feel others' needs take precedence over our own. It's crucial to remember that our empathy is a gift, allowing us to connect with others on a profound level. However, it’s equally important to nurture our own feelings and recognize our value.

Building self-confidence as an empath involves setting healthy boundaries, practicing self-care, and embracing our unique perspectives. It’s about honoring our emotions while also acknowledging that we deserve to shine just as brightly. Remember, it’s okay to prioritize ourselves and our needs—doing so empowers us to support others even better. Embracing our identity as empaths can lead to a beautiful balance between caring for others and cultivating our own self-confidence.

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[rubylamoureux]

Oxalates & Carnivore 

These little devils crashed my world this week! What are they? They are a natural compound found in plants, animals, and humans that can form crystals. These crystals can collect in soft tissue and joints, causing pain and inflammation. These crystals can form in urine and kidneys and cause progressive renal failure. They can aggravate the gut lining, hello leaky gut (the one many doctors claim doesn’t happen. They can actually make it difficult to recover from leaky gut. These little devils can affect other areas of the body, causing fatigue, muscle soreness and create oxidative stress affecting every system in the human body. 

Oxalates are in many of our “healthy��� foods that are being pushed today, such as; kale, and other greens, beans, legumes, nightshades, grains, black pepper, cocoa, chocolate, nuts, nut butters, seeds, fruits, and berries. 

Just yesterday, I made the decision to go carnivore for 5-years. I also stated that I would more of a “wild carnivore” eating 70% or more carnivore and up to 30% (most often much less) other low-carb healthy foods. Well, after dealing with weeks of this horrible pain, I remembered hearing something about oxalates and I did some research.

The research led me to discover that lectins and oxalates are both protective and anti-nutrients that bind to other nutrients like calcium, iron, and zinc for example and making them harder for our bodies to absorb. I feel the key word here is ANTI-NUTRIENTS. The human body needs nutrients, not anti-nutrients. So many diets like Carnivore are avoiding them in their natural form. 

With this new knowledge, I can no longer support adding these anti-nutrients to my body (as I had planned to yesterday) and don’t recommend you do either. 

A carnivore diet of beef, butter, bacon, and eggs have less than 2 mg per 100 mg or a 3.5 oz serving, just by eliminating plant-basted foods. Many having zero per serving. A carnivore eating lifestyle eliminates inflammatory foods, by greatly lowering or removing anti-nutrients and irritants, (plant-based) nutrients, that are bodies do not need anyway like; oxalates, lectins, phytates, and goitrogens reduces the common triggers of inflammation. 

[rubylamoureux]

Today, DEC 5, 2024, is the day! I have been dabbling in Carnivore for 3 months. I did 30 days and felt amazing! Then fell off, and the best I have done is 60% carnivore since. I have had some good days and some horrible days. 

For the past month or so, I have been dealing with horrible aches and pains. I feel creaky all over! We had a window break and I had 14 stitches; it made me hobble and favor my other leg causing some serious hip alignment issues. As I worked hard to get back to walking 1–4 miles at least 3 times per week, it has been a struggle. My hips feel tight. I have to stop periodically and stretch the muscles. I drink electrolytes almost every day. Furthermore, I have added collagen and often take magnesium. I don’t take any prescriptions. (I did have to take antibiotics for 30 days and took probiotics for 60 days.) 

My energy is pretty good these days. I really don’t have any cravings with carnivore; just my mind-mouth addictions like bread and french fries are my greatest struggles. 

I looked at every exception I could to do KETO/Carnivore. . . Then I read that wild carnivores only eat 70% meat at times. They are not designed to eat a diet of plants, but will partake in up to 30% non-meat. That could be grass, berries, nuts, bark, roots. . . So, I had to ask myself if a low-carb non-meat food could ready harm a carnivore diet. I think that is to be discovered for each of us! Will being a strict carnivore help detox, eliminate, and cut the vicious cravings? YES, hands down, it will. Will it stop healing, or slow it down? It definitely could. Would it be the end of the world or diet overall—DEFINITELY NOT! 

Healing is a unique thing; for some, it can continue for as many years, as you are old. Certainly, 5-10-15 years has been documented, by those who have gone before us. You will need to do your own research and make your own choices. What I want to say is, my choices—my journey. 

I will be eating cheese, dairy, and a few low carbs and occasionally a serving of “CARBS.” I am going to work on my minimizing this. I am going to ask my body if it is hungry. If it really wants _______ today? Is it worth it? How will it make me feel? (This is a big one for me-as many foods are just no longer worth how they make me feel.) What I will not allow myself is to BINGE  again. I am NO LONGER ADDICTED. I can take ONE BITE and walk away! I couldn’t say that before today. 

My ultimate goal is to eat mostly carnivore and carnivore ingredients every day, and am passionate about learning to cook meat in lots of NEW ways. I also want to find alternatives to old favorites. I will use this platform, among others, to share my FIVE-YEAR JOURNEY with others.

[rubylamoureux]

Does it really matter what we call it?

Diets ~ Lifestyles ~ Way of Eating ~ 

Any Transitional way of eating is CHALLENGING! 

CARNIVORE couldn’t be simpler, yet so sustainable at the same time. A Carnivore lifestyle is about MEAT (all meats, fish, game, fowl) Fat or Butter, Bacon, Eggs, Water and Salt.

This might sound impossible or totally boring if you are hearing it for the first time, but somehow it’s not. What is challenging is our mindset, thinking we want bread, french fries, cake, whatever.  Carbohydrates are ADDICTIVE. Both, to our mind and body.

The rollercoaster likeness of a carbohydrate diet, as the sugar levels rise and fall, demanding more.

When eliminating carbohydrates we become fat-adapted—the best part of the KETO/CARNO world. Once that happens, food just becomes a necessity. No more demanding, uncontrollable cravings. 

Accepting the ADAPTIVENESS of Carbohydrates is hard to accept. Is it easy for an alcoholic to accept they are addicted to alcohol? Is it easy for someone who has chronic pain and has become addicted to prescription drugs? NO, NO, NO, addiction is not something we just wake up one day and say, “I am addicted, I think I will quit, and problem solved.” They may think it for a moment, but the stopping is a very different challenge that many, never overcome. 

So what makes you think you can change overnight? 

Acceptance of your addiction is the first step, like all addictions are. 

Then you need to separate yourself from your addiction. This may simply mean removing carbohydrates from your home or seeking a support partner, or both. It could also mean eating at home and not eating out. 

A plan is most helpful during this transition. A Meal Plan, and a Situational Plan. A Meal Plan is knowing what you're going to eat and having food prepared and well planned ahead. Situation Plan, is a strategy for working late, or eating out, and of course, how to handle or what to eat when a craving hits hard. There will always be stress and anxiety, so be prepared. Have a friend willing to pick up the phone and walk you through the moment. 

You can have anything you want. . The question is, what do you choose to have???  Do not tell yourself you CAN”T HAVE. . . Tell yourself WHAT YOU CHOOSE to Have Right Now, don’t worry about tomorrow or next day!!!! You are the one in control of this moment.

Take Action NOW: Not tomorrow, not next week, or some other time - RIGHT NOW! Will you fall down, maybe, get up, get back on! Don’t make excuses; just keep going and Never Quiet!

You got this! 

[rubylamoureux]

Backstory...continuted

My husband, at that time, thought the women’s (the professional dentist's) fees were ridiculous. I had no choice and had to find another route. Weeks later, and a few hundred dollars saved, I began calling dentists to have my teeth pulled - not surgery. I found one, and made the appointment reasonable, and I had found where I could get false teeth pretty cheap.

Ok, well that was a bust. They got about half my teeth out, then they began to break. I was sure the dentist was going to break or dislocate my jaw. His assistant had tears watching me and the pain I was in. Did you know that infection is not numb-able? Its not. . And then the pockets of infection must be dug out . Oh, the joy!

When I walked out of there, my mom was waiting in the car to drive back if needed. She was shocked and could not believe how I looked. As I tried to explain though, the gauze and numbness and pain and yes, TEARS. At that moment, I really didn’t want to be an adult anymore.

Now faced with need for an oral surgeon. . . that's not cheap!

Well, I found one! They would even put temporary teeth in and provide permeant set in a few weeks. Let me tell you all, months later, I had teeth, spent over 10K and went through a living hell in the process. It didn’t do a lot for my marriage, that I can tell ya.

Anyway, this infection had been playing havoc for years. Another issue I had was server bloating after meals. I found food combining and that help tremendously. Then my mom had a heartache, and we dove even deeper into health. She had to eat, and doctors were telling her to get this or that diet. OMG, it was crazy! Basically we choose the Summer sizing diet, lots of fresh veggies and proper food combining. My mom lost weight, not me. The other things was mom needed to exercise, and her doctors told her she needed to walk more. Of course, she didn’t want to walk alone. My daughter walked with her when she was at home, but mom needed more. I began to walk, I needed the exercise too, I didn’t want to be where my mom was in a few years.

I discover, I couldn’t walk! My feel felt like there were cinder blocks time to them! I would get chin splints and pain that lasted for days. I couldn’t push though, it was completely debilitating! After some research I found it might be a magnesium deficiency, and it was! A few years later my mom had moved back north, and we downsized.

I knew I was greatly out of shape, the walking hadn’t helped. The diet had not helped! I still couldn’t lose weight. We were flat broke! No insurance. Depression was hover hard.

I tried to mow our small lawn, with a push mower, only to discover I would make one short path without being on my knees (literary) out of breath and heart pounding. Yes, it was HOT, but. . .I kept hydrated, took breaks at each pass or less as needed.

A few years later, I divorced and moved north. I got insurance and some much-needed care. Now, I don’t love doctors, but they do have their place. I needed hearing aids, as the years of infections from teeth had caused damage to nerves. I also got back to riding the bike and walking. Furthermore, I did lose some weight. Making me feel like a failure.

Then, I discovered CarniVore, and everything changed. To wrap up backstory: Over several years together prior to discovering carnivore, we both learned to drink plenty of water daily. Cut out all soda, caffeine, sweets and high carbs.

I was 70 pounds overweight and had this constant rash around my nose and eyebrows that I had to keep adding medication to. My skin was dry no matter what I used, nails were brittle and had line and cracking and age spots on my hands and face. . I have had unpredictable pain, locking up a knee, elbow and a shoulder. Struggling with flexibility. Just so over food and the daily struggle. Two weeks on carnivore and I felt so good. My legs felt lighter than they had in years! There was an abundance of energy. I lost 10 pounds. My husband's blood glucose even dropped. Then we fell off . . . And it all came back with a vengeance.

December 5, 2024, I said “ENOUGH” and made a 5-year Commitment to Better Healthy Living. . .

[rubylamoureux]

Backstory

Years later, I remarried, and we moved to Florida. My husband is a long-time diabetic. Once again, I dove into healthy eating. My kids all grown, and financial stability, health insurance—life was good! My weight wasn’t budging, and husband's A1C wasn’t budging. As a youth, I was very active. I played soccer, baseball, and tag football, and rode my bike for miles every day after school and on weekends when didn’t walk. I continued to walk a lot well into my 20s and 30s.

But later into my 30s things began to change. First, I was making old-fashioned homemade meals, bread, pasta, rolls, you name it. As my weight started to feel out of control, I looked into exercising more. I dabbled in body building, and yoga. It didn’t help.

Being told at around 13 that I had periodontal disease and needed to brush and floss, or I would lose my teeth as a young adult, I brushed and brushed and brushed, only to discover in my early 40s that the real issue was an allergy to fluoride that was causing the redness, bleeding, and later infection.

Somewhere in my mid to late 30s, I began to focus on more healthy foods and products with a small budget. I did find a non-fluoride toothpaste for my family. Within days, I was like wow, my mouth felt so good. You see, I lived on over the counter pain pills to hand the deep infections. That all began to change without the fluoride. A little to late. . .

Once the major infection and swelling receded, my teeth began to fall out. I had not had insurance in years, but pulled together enough money to go to a dentist, hoping to save the majority of my teeth. She wanted me in surgery immediately! Horrifying times! I

was too young to deal with this and my vanity was taking a hit.

I saved and found a dentist to try and save my teeth. But what happened was she wanted me in surgery immediately. I was in great danger from the infection. It would require a 10K dollar procedure to pull all my badly infected teeth, and input temporary plates, followed by permanent ones months later after all the swelling was gone. We had no money, no credit cards, no credit. I had to leave there, in tears, scared and knowing that I was a walking heart attack or stroke waiting to happen. A mom of 3, my youngest was just a baby.

I had NO IDEA! I felt so stupid. I didn’t know that the infection I had been dealing with all those years, could have gotten into my blood stream and cause possible death or catastrophic damage to my well-being. . . to be continued.

[rubylamoureux]

The CarniVore Gal

Just a girl who made a commitment to regain her flexibility and strength.

Choosing to go CarniVore for 5 years!

Dec 5, 2024 - Dec 25, 2029.

I invite you to not just, follow along, but join me, as I share all the details of the journey and empower you to take control of your life too!