Well guess what?  It's now 6 months living here in Dundee, NY -- Woo Hoo!  I have made some really nice connections such as:

Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church:  Singing with the Members of the Sunday Choir.
Our Town Rocks and Reads -- Economic Committee.  Read grant applications; decide if eligible.
Dundee Area Historical Society -- Inventory Analysis; Identify the donated contributions on site.
First Baptist Church -- Community Garden Festivities.  Contribute cooking donations of my own.
Cobblestone Springs -- Peaceful prayer meetings.  Participate in Sr. Ann's discussion groups.
Pro Action Office for the Aging -- Bone building and Tai chi participant.

I've also met some really lovely people at these sites and made some new friends: 

Rose Jensen
Dee Anderson, Lauren Snyder, Karen Hadley, Bob Sisbarro
Lou Marcianda
Kristen Bellin
Sr. Ann
Pam Strong

In addition, I've just had the man-made pond renovated by a hardworking woman, Shannon Gibbs. It's such a small world out here. Everybody seems to know one another. In my case, I met Shannon's mom at St. Mark's Terrace where my Tai Chi class was held and she encouraged me to submit an article to Gwen Chamberlain, the editor of the Chronicle Express.  Gwen loved it and published it under "Opinions to the Editor."  (https://plus.google.com/+CamilleLoParrino/posts/CX9Udyv3tsN).

First Week in Dundee

Hello Everyone!  Tonight I will try to describe my first week of living in my new home in Dundee. 

First, let me explain that this is basically a second home that I prefer to take full advantage of as many days of the year as possible rather that utilize it just as a summer home. 

So far, it appears to me that Dundee winter's are beautiful -- chock full of white snow among the evergreens. Our property on Six Corners Road consists of 31.7 acres of trees, a pond, and a shed.  The house itself is a Ranch-style home and is recessed from the main road for about 200 feet. I call the trail to the house "the Yellow Brick Road" because it is totally magical and unbelievable to me.

There was much unpacking, sorting, and storing to do this week and it's still not all completed.  There were some glitches with the new furniture and Customer Care had to get involved.  I expect this to be corrected on Thursday of this second week. This slight throwback, however, is nothing compared to what happened after Church on Sunday.  I drove to the Dollar Store to pick up a few things and when I got back into the car it would not start!  AAAGGGHHH!  Luckily my husband and his brother were in a second car and they waited with me for the tow truck and took me back home.  Waaaaaaaa!  After all that hassle finding someone to drive my Camry up here, and then I do not get to drive it more than two places -- Yuck!  I'm waiting to see what happens now at the service repair shop.

Another big hassle is the new shelter dog.  She is totally confused and is literally using the carpets in the new home as her personal toilet!  She has peed in every room, except the bathroom which is really funny.  But what's really sad is that she had the audacity to poop in my new office -- oh well, some people say that should bring me luck.  Stand by for that one:).

My nutty cat is also off kilter because in our first home we provided her with two little area rugs for her to use to scratch, and here she thinks she's in scratch-post-heaven because the entire house is carpeted! I swear between the two of them, they are driving me up the wall!  It's hard enough adjusting to the new home and trying to get familiar with the surrounding environment, and now these two little ones are stressing me out.  Ironic isn't it because this move was supposed to be a quiet and relaxing get-away:).

I ordered a bookcase for all my cookbooks and nutrition and diabetes-related books so that I could begin my research for my second book.  Basically, I would like it to be about how to apply all the healthy foods I wrote about into tasty yet easy to prepare meals particularly for Type 2 diabetics.

In case you're playing catch up, my first book is called "Dancing in the Streets -- A Journey into Wellness" and it's about how I was able to get my Type 2 diabetes into remission.  Check it out.  It's got a wealth of useful info for all who are interested in good nutrition.  It's pocket-sized and easy to carry around when you have a free moment:  http://www.ourlittlebooks.com/camille-loparrino/  

Last Week in the Bronx!

I'm moving on!.  This is my last week before I move on to my new home in Dundee, NY -- Woo hoo!
(Between Seneca and Keuka Lakes).   I will soon be saying, "At Six Corners Road, I can see cows." 

This is a pix of the carport and deck at the back of the house where all of my loyal friends and family are invited to join me on my new adventures in the country.  I will have two sofa beds and two air mattresses for you guys so start making your reservations early.  Any weekend or week you have free after the 15th of February, I will be there to share my wonderful 31.7 acres of my new wonderland!

Refuel Minute - Eat Less, Exercise More is Wrong (+playlist)

Dancing in the Street -- A Journey into Wellness

It's official!  My book is now live!  Our Little Books has published my personal memoir on how I took control of Type 2 diabetes.  It is filled with personal and professional references that helped me avoid diabetic complications.  I have written on several diabetic websites yet nothing is more exciting than having my very own survival guide to offer to pre-diabetics and Type 2's live a better life. 

Enjoy!
http://www.ourlittlebooks.com/dancing-in-the-street

Woo Hoo!

Woooooo Hooo I just got a 95% on my IIN graduate nutrition school final exam!!!!! Had some crazy tech problems that I had to resolve. Retook it immediately and I did it! -- Phew! Thank God for my MSEd in Ed Tech too! Woo Hoo! Now to go out and apply everything I learned...

Updated Blog

Welcome!  Congratulations on your desire for guidance on how to attain a happier and healthier lifestyle! Let me give you a little background information...

I am a Certified Holistic Health Coach after completing the Professional Training Program of IIN, NYC’s Institute of Integrative Nutrition, and with S.U.N.Y, The State University of New York’s School of Liberal Studies and Continuing Education at Purchase College.  My specialty is the prevention and control of obesity and diabetes.  As a result of poor quality and style of eating, many people are overweight and have, or will soon have, diabetes.  It is my intention to change this situation and to improve upon cholesterol and blood sugar levels.   I have a passion to share my success story with those who want a positive change.

Specifically, I have been able to control my own diagnosis.  In February 2011 I had my blood tested and was diagnosed with diabetes.  I was given a diabetic drug to control my blood sugar levels, but I did not want to stay on that drug forever.  Therefore, I was determined to control my condition through nutrition and exercise instead.  And I did so.  This is how I succeeded…

I immediately obtained a nutritionist and a personal trainer, and within four months, I lost 25 pounds and got off the diabetic medication.  Now, a year and half later, I have kept off the 25 pounds, do not require medication, and have maintained my sugar levels in the normal range.  I am proof that to be successful in this area you have to make up your mind to carry out a lifestyle change that includes healthier choices. In particular, you need to be focused on the way you are eating, what you are eating, and how much you are eating.  It will help even more when you keep moving with regulated activities for at least 30 minutes a day. This was doable for me and it could be doable for you as soon as you keep an open mind, are willing to try some new things, and have a positive attitude that you will succeed. I made the decision to live a happier and healthier life and now it is a natural part of my existence. I enjoy finding more and more ways to add to this healthier state of mind and body.  It is now my vocation to show others how to feel better.  Begin here:  There is a collection of healthy recipes in the side panel of my Health Coach website – Explore and let me hear some feedback on your new healthy choices:  www.happymediumensemble.net

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Camille LoParrino is an in-house nutrition counselor and conducts a series of nutritional workshops with adults.  She also travels to senior centers to speak to this age group on the control and/or prevention of diabetes and thoroughly enjoys “taking the show on the road” in NY.  Visit her Happy Medium website:  www.happymediumensemble.net