Gave up white sugar and felt like you were going into labor?? What does that tell me? I don’t think you could explain it any clearer. Impressive. Thanks…I’m going to remember this and when the going gets tough, I’m going to remind myself that I’m NOT the only one to have to go through withdrawal.

On another note, I recently gave a lecture and had a police officer in my class talking about Methamphetamine: its epidemic here in California and I had to bring in help to discuss it as its power as a nervous system stimulant was way beyond my imagination and ability to describe. There was benzadrine and dexidrine when I was growing up.  They were being given out as diet pills in the 60’s. Just like the tranqs [Valium, Librium] for depression.  No one seemed to *know* at the time the addictive qualities of speed or tranquilizers. [*chuckle* Freud knew though, having  experimented w/cocaine for four years!]  Frankly, I don’t know for certain if the pharma industry knew:  I have my suspicions though.  How could they not in the 60’s?

My point: caffeine does not “up my pleasure”  like meth would do to the brain.  Meth lasts 2-12 hours and is substantially more powerful than cocaine. I’ve heard 20 times more powerful, but I need to check that figure out.  

In my research, I came across the answer to a question I had in my mind: Does caffeine release dopamine ? [Dopamine affects brain processes that control movement, emotional response, and ability to experience pleasure and pain. Meth releases dopamine].     Caffeine does release dopamine on miniscule level, comparably.  Caffeine — like any stimulant — changes the way your brain works.   Here is only one study.  http://www.jneurosci.org/cgi/reprint/22/15/6321

But caffeine is just a mild example of a stimulant. Still, I find it fasinating that its under the same umbrella with cocaine.
I’m getting carried away…per usual. *chuckle*
Off to the our garden to plant some herbs.
Thanks for being here. Dig it.

As far as getting over addictions I cut out white sugar and diet soda one day and man it was tough. On the third day I woke up and felt like I did when I was in labor. I had cramps in my legs and just felt terrible all day. I woke up the next day feeling great. I haven’t had a soda since but I have had some sugar. I used to eat candy all the time but I haven’t fallen back into my old habits. I do enjoy dark chocolate once in awhile but if I’m cooking at home I only use natural sweeteners. It’s hard but you can do it!!!!

Oh! My!! I do hope you’ll post a few pictures once you get your yurt up. How exciting is this adventure!! I’m excited for you. I have to figure out 7meters….we are on the ‘old’ system. :-) They LOOK beautiful.

Do fill us in when you can. I could move into one tomorrow!!

We have actually bought one of the Mongolian yurts advertised on these pages, it will arrive in July. We intend on living in it as it is a huge 7 metres in diameter (roughly 36 sqare metres). They are incredibly beautiful, I can confirm that. And interestingly they are great to sleep in - I am not sure why that would be though. We were fortunate enough to have a lend of one for a month around Xmas and I had the best months sleep I can remember.