As I sit writing this my very painful back is telling me that it hurts and is urging me not to move or bend or do anything!

 In fact, my brain is telling me that my pain is in my back, and is  cleverly putting into place protective measures like holding myself stiffly, moving with caution and pulling in all my supporting muscles to protect my back. Little does my brain know that its protective measures are doing more harm than good! Bad back...means "keep moving"!

Even though I keep telling my brain that the pain it is feeling is not nearly as bad as it thinks...I still can't seem to break through the brain pain barrier! There is currently a lot of research into pain and specifically chronic pain and how our brains can be our worst enemy (or best friend) in the fight against pain. I found this very humorous and informative talk by Lorrimer Moseley to be extremely helpful in dealing with, and understanding the pain in my back. 

I know it will get better, and I know that my brain is reacting to an injury memory of many years ago.

I think that if you have had back pain you will know what I mean when I say that it is extremely painful! Sort of like a knife sawing through your nerves. Not only is it painful, but there are things that you want to do that the pain in your back won't let you do...simple daily chores, going to work, and getting outdoors. So the physical pain changes your mood because not only are you in pain, you are feeling frustrated by limited movement and jobs not done.  Pain is more than the feeling...it effects your entire outlook on the world around you...your 'pain brain' limits you physically, emotionally and socially. 

So why am I writing this? Simply because I do not want my 'pain brain' to prevent me from doing what needs to be done. Nor do I want to give in to pain that will get better with time...and I want to share with you just a little snippet about understanding why we feel pain.  I think it is good to understand why we feel pain the way we do...It may not alleviate it..but at least we can understand it! 

My final words to you...Keep moving and smiling! It actually does help!

I am so happy to say that I have a lemon myrtle range of bar soaps and liquid soap. I am so pleased  with my finished Lemon Myrtle and Calendula soap bar! It smells wonderful and looks great. The fragrance of Australian Lemon Myrtle blended with Calendula from my own garden is a perfect combination in this bar soap. It gave me a lot of pleasure to plant and harvest my own Calendula for my soap. 

I have also planted lemon verbena, lemon myrtle, lavender and roses to use in my Spring and Summer soaps. It looks like it is going to be a fun season for soap making!

I  completed making a Lemon Myrtle Liquid soap which I think is amazing. Not only does it smell great..it feels amazing on my skin! I didn't realise how different liquid soap felt to the detergent based hand washes until I made my own liquid soap. The difference can be felt immediately! The texture is slippery, silky and sudsy all at the same time. I really like this liquid soap...but a caution to any budding liquid soap makers...Potassium Hydroxide is hard to come by. My nearest stockist is about 12 hours drive away! As it can't be shipped by post in Australia...it is very hard to get. 

Both these soaps are available for purchase from my Etsy store. I will place the links here for you:)
https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/244907333/lemon-myrtle-and-calendula-soap?ref=shop_home_active_1

and
https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/244761361/pure-liquid-soap-handwashvegan-liquid?ref=shop_home_active_1

There are many reasons why we choose to eat the way we do.  

I understand that many people choose to eat Vegan or Vegetarian for many diverse reasons... Many can not eat grains as they are not able to tolerate gluten in wheat, oats, rye and barley. Others can' t digest dairy. These choices are not usually a result of food confusion..they are a lifestyle choice and in some cases a life saving necessity.

Let me make it clear from the beginning...I am not a dietician, I have no claims to know any more than you about good nutrition...I am simply writing from my own journey with food confusion and my personal struggle with excess fat on my body and a BMI over 30. 

I do not like the word..'diet' if it is not coupled with 'healthy eating and all things in moderation'....

I am not immune to the plethora of new food fads that feature on every google search. In my search for the ultimate healthy eating plan I have read so many confused and conflicting articles it is no wonder there is so much food confusion. Obesity is on the rise and seems to be concurrent with every new diet, wonder diet, super diet and ultimate diet that is touted as guaranteed to help you lose your weight and keep it off!

If you, like me, just want to lose some fat, keep to a healthy weight, eat to be healthy and get well, then the world of dieting and eating plans has let us down dismally! When reading about the different diets on Google or in books, it is almost as if we are reading articles and books written by Zealots who leave no room for any other way of thinking about or consuming food. It's sort of my way or the highway mentality!

If we are not eating Super Foods or Low Carb,  or following a Paleo, Primal, Atkins, McDougall, or numerous other diets on the market...then we are letting our bodies and our health down! 

I have come to the conclusion that we are letting the marketers down if we no longer buy into the slick advertising and possible pseudo science that centres around the food and dieting industry. If we don't buy their books and eating plans...then what happens? We are not spending money and they are not earning it!  

In my search to lose fat  (as opposed to weight) I tried the Atkins Diet. Very low carbohydrate, moderate protein and high fat. Very soon my body was in ketosis and I was losing those kilos...but I did not find Atkins to be an easy 'take anywhere' style of eating...I did not like the focus on meat and fats, even though lots of vegetables could be eaten. 

I like my carbs! I like my Oat porridge and Vegemite Wholegrain toast! I like brown rice and barley! 
These are not bad foods! In fact they are healthy and wholesome. 

Now if you follow a Paleo or Primal diet, the premise is that our early ancestors did not eat grains.
'Paleo diets are based on a simple premise – if the cavemen didn’t eat it, you shouldn’t either. So long to refined sugar, dairy, legumes and grains.' 1

I give a big thumbs up to cutting down on sugar and processed food...it is common sense!  I know that when I eat a donut or Twix, I am not eating for my health or fat loss! I have no real problems with the Paleo diet...except that I think (and I am certainly no expert on nutrition or Neolithic or Palaeolithic humans) they are working off an incorrect premise. Early humans did eat grains! Below is an interesting talk by Christina Warinner, an Archeological Scientist, on the premise behind the Paleo Diet. She does not say the foods eaten by those who follow a Paleo diet are bad or unhealthy...she simply elucidates the science behind an incorrect premise.

Where are we to turn? There is so much food confusion! 

I have no problem with people eating Vegan, Vegetarian, Primal, Low Carb High Fat or any other number of ways to enjoy food! I, like many others, want to eat for optimum health! Could it be that all we really need to do is use our common sense? Perhaps this is a good formula...eat less rubbish, move more, and eat a balance of nutritious foods all in moderation?

Could it be that whole grains, fats, carbohydrates and starches, dairy and meat are not the real enemy to our weight woes? Perhaps I just need to listen to that echo from my childhood...eat lots of fruit and vegetables, wholemeal and whole grains, small amounts of meat, drink your full cream milk, enjoy an egg...have a treat now and then...but don't eat too much! And get outside and play! 

I would love to hear from you if you, like me, have ever been food confused. Feel free to comment but please leave your name:)

Further Reading: 
This is a very informative and sensible article on food.

• Sugar, Saturated Fat, and Science: Today’s Health Meets Yesterday’s News
  

Below is an excellent website on nutrition

• Choose Nutrition

1. http://health.usnews.com/best-diet/paleo-diet

The Damask Rose soap, being a Hot Process soap is ready to use immediately, however, I am letting it get a little harder before wrapping. I think that I will wrap it in a red polka dot scrapbooking paper tied with a pink ribbon. It sounds like those two colours will clash, but I am trying to use the same colours as the soap and the petals. I think that it will work. 

The Lemon Myrtle & Calendula soap is curing and needs another 4 weeks to ensure its mildness. I used the Calendula from my garden. It is a lovely feeling to pick my own flowers, leaves and herbs to use in my soaps!  I have also planted Lemon Verbena, Lavender and my own Lemon Myrtle tree so that I can use fresh leaves and flowers from my garden. So I am looking forward to Spring!

I will not categorise these soaps as 'Natural' Handmade soaps as I have used a fragrance Oil. I only label soap as natural if the fragrance used is essential oil. Otherwise, both these soaps contain lots of skin loving oils such as Extra Virgin Olive oil, Rice Bran Oil, Sunflower Oil, Soybean Oil, Canola Oil, and Coconut Oil. My favourite is the Lemon Myrtle as I love the lemony fragrance. I think that is why I am partial to Verbena and citrusy scents in general. 

I will post pictures of both soaps after wrapping and labelling so that you can view the finished product. So check back in a few days for the Damask Rose soap and in a few weeks for the Lemon Myrtle soap. 
Which scents do you prefer. floral or citrus? Leave a comment.

Ross G. Alloway and Tracy Packiam Alloway (2015) THE WORKING MEMORY BENEFITS OF PROPRIOCEPTIVELY DEMANDING TRAINING: A PILOT STUDY, . Perceptual and Motor Skills: Volume 120, Issue , pp. 766-775. 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3180689/Want-boost-brain-power-Try-climbing-trees-Childish-pastimes-improve-working-memories-50.html