Secrets of the Biggest Losers

Hi There! This month I am going to share with you "Secrets from the Biggest Losers". Often we start the new year off with a commitment to find a plan to LOSE weight, however the real secret is to never have to go on a diet again. Instead learn how to not just lose the weight, but more importantly how to keep it off! I think you will enjoy reading about the three most common factors that the "biggest losers" have in common.

Secrets of the Biggest Losers
In 1994, The National Weight Control Registry was created to track the characteristics of people who have lost weight and successfully kept it off for an extended period of time. The registry currently consists of 5,000 individuals, who are at least 18 years or older and have maintained a weight loss of 30 or more pounds for more than a year. The average weight loss of was 66 pounds and the members have maintained weight loss for an average of 5.5 years.
* 55% of the participants used a structured program or received professional guidance.
* 98% of participants reduced food intake and modified their diet.
* 94% increased physical activity, with walking being the number one way people increased activity.
* 78% of long term “winners” started their day off with breakfast.
* 75% weighed themselves at least on a weekly basis.
* 62% watched less than 10 hours of TV a week.
* 90% exercised for about 1 hour a day.

If you notice, almost 90% of the participants reduced their food intake and increased their physical activity. No magic pills or formulas...just moving more and eating less.

In conclusion, the study found THREE Common Strategies for Success:
1. Followed a diet moderate in fat, protein, and carbohydrates. For long term success, people used a balanced approach to eating. They did not exclude all carbohydrates or fat, but instead focused on moderation.

2. Regular physical activity. You will hear this over and over, regular physical activity is important. If you struggle with getting in a regular physical activity routine, take some time out and REFLECT on what you ENJOY doing. Maybe you need to change your approach or mindset to what regular physical activity actually means, be creative.

3. Frequent self monitoring. This is key for many people because it is easy to stay on course if you know exactly WHERE you are. Let's face it, if the scale is up a pound or two you may be more inclined to say "no thank you" a little more and take that extra walk. If the scale is up 10 or 15 pounds, then it becomes a lot more challenging to muster up the motivation and "re-tackle" your weight loss. Find something you can use to monitor yourself. You can use the scale, a pair of pants, or a belt. The point is, for long term success be honest with yourself and if you have indulged a little too much, then “reign” in the eating before things get out of control.

Three Common Reasons People Re- Gain Their Weight Loss:
1. Increased fat intake. Fat has 9 calories per gram compared to carbohydrates or protein which are 4 calories per gram. Therefore, it is easy for those fat calories to sneak in and add up. If you have struggled with losing and re-gaining your weight in the past, ask yourself - have I let my fair share of fatty foods start creeping back in?

2. Decreased physical activity. Often times when we have a weight loss goal, we are very focused on reaching that number therefore we do whatever it takes to get in the extra exercise. However, it is labeled as EXTRA exercise, and this is a mental mind block that keeps us from staying within our goal weight. For long term success we need to alter the EXTRA exercise mentality to one that focuses on living an active lifestyle.

3. Reduced self monitoring. Often times not facing the reality that things may be going in the wrong direction will be the factor that keeps you from staying within your weight goal. If you feel like you don't want to "face the reality", then it is probably time to be honest with yourself and start taking it one day at a time with eating a little less and moving a little more.


Yvette Quantz is a well respected Lifestyle and Sports Nutritionist based in Lafayette, Louisiana. She is a member of the American Dietetic Association, Louisiana Dietetic Association, Sports Cardiovascular and Wellness Nutritionist, Nutrition Entrepreneurs, Nutrition and Complimentary Care, and a Certified Eating Coach. You can visit her website at: http://www.foodtherapyonline.com/



Photo by Alan Cleaver

Burrowing Owls...

Burrowing Owls are primarily owls of prairie dog towns. In the winter, they migrate south and look for flat fields with some sort of burrow or debris heap they can take shelter in. These owls are somewhat diurnal, especially on overcast days.

I recall the first time I saw a Burrowing Owl. I was walking levees on my uncle's farm near Kaplan when a small pale brown bird flew out of a little concrete culvert. It flew low to the ground, pulled up on a clod a few yards away, and started to bob up and down and swivel its head back and forth. I was amazed to find one of these birds (that I'd only ever seen on nature shows) in the rice country of SW LA. Over the years, I found that coverts on levees in dry fields were good places to look for these owls. I recall finding 2 or 3 in such settings in the winter of 1979 alone.

Story continues here....


Paul Conover has pursued the hobby of bird watching for many years and is well versed on the various types of birds seen here in Southwest Louisiana.

Chrsitmas Getaways Part 2

We continue with interesting places to spend the Christmas holidays....

Key West, FL
Good cheer and warm temperatures are typically Key West’s winning attributes, and Christmas is no exception. The trimmed palm trees, done-up historic inns (tours Dec. 11, 12, 18, and 19), and four festooned blocks of boats along the historic waterfront (the “Bight Before Christmas”) only amplify the town’s merriment.

Where to Stay: Just off bustling Duval Street, the boutique Marquesa Hotel is an oasis of chill: three historic buildings and one new one sharing a leafy courtyard with two pools. On Christmas morning, they serve a buffet breakfast poolside. Doubles from $345.

And for Holiday dinner....Nine One Five, housed in a 1906 Victorian manse, has a holiday menu that mixes tapas (bacon-wrapped dates; duck liver pâté) with entrées such as Soul Mama seafood soup and mushroom risotto.

Shopping: Bésame Mucho is your best bet for sensual gifts like perfume or handwoven shopping bags made from palm fronds. Despite its moniker, local department store Fast Buck Freddie’s stocks tasteful—and sometimes whimsical—housewares and clothing.

Quebec City:
Lit-up cobblestone streets, 16th- and 17th-century stone houses, and lots and lots of snow make Quebec’s 400-year-old walled city an atmospheric and European-like place to be at Christmas. Quebec’s good cheer and great food could make you remember you love winter after all.

Where to Stay: Housed in former 19th-century stone warehouse in Vieux-Port, Auberge St. Antoine stands out for the perfection with which it juxtaposes old and new. Soaring ceilings and cast-iron beams are complemented with such amenities as heated stone floors, and artifacts unearthed during its renovation are on display throughout. Doubles from $209.

Holiday Dinner: Serving traditional Québécois cuisine based on 17th-century French recipes, Aux Anciens Canadiens is offering its main menu on Christmas Day from 5 p.m. Appetizer highlights include foie gras au torchon on a baguette and scallops and prawns in a white-wine sauce, while entrées run the gamut from a vegetable terrine to filet mignon of wild caribou. (Prix fixe $36-$79, depending on the main course, or à la carte.)

Stocking Stuffers: Step back in time with a visit to Maison Jean-Alfred Moisan grocery, a 140-year-old Vieille Quebec mainstay. For Québécois clothes, try La Maison Simons department store, and for hand-wrought ceramics, Boutique Pauline Pelletier is a good bet.

Trømso, Norway
The snowy city island of Trømso offers unparalleled views of the northern lights and a chance to say you’ve been to the North Pole—well, the Arctic Circle, anyway—for Christmas. Plus, there’s dogsledding, great food, and a mountaintop cable car. Here, “day” is just a couple hours of twilight blue.

Where to Stay: Most hotels shut down for the holiday, but not the Clarion Hotel Bryggen, right on the harbor. The great views of Trømso Sound are best seen from the roof’s steamy Jacuzzi. Doubles from $194.

For holiday dinner, stay put at the Clarion for a traditional Norwegian Christmas dinner at its restaurant, Astro. The chef will serve pinnekjøtt, cured lamb ribs, served with puréed rutabaga and boiled potatoes; and ribbe, a crispy version of spareribs, accompanied by Christmas sausage, apples, prunes, and red cabbage.

Shopping: Norwegian chain Husfliden is the place to go for traditional clothing, including bunads (the Norwegian national costume) and handwoven sweaters. Blåst, a glassblowing studio, sells the wares of its three resident artists.


Suzanne Brevelle is from Lafayette and works at Avenues To Travel. You can contact her via email Suzanne@avenues2travel.com or telephone 337-231-5656. She is a Certified Specialist for Sandal’s and Beaches Resorts as well as Grand Cayman, Jamaica and Hawaii. Her specialty is couples and family vacations, groups, honeymoons and corporate travel.

Christmas Getaways Part 1

Hard to believe but there are only 34 shopping days left until Christmas. Wouldn't it be great to spend the holiday traveling to a new place. Here are some destinations that do Christmas right:

Taos, New Mexico
This remote village on a high desert plain is especially magical at Christmas, thanks to its rich mix of cultural traditions. Not to miss: historic Ledoux Street all lit up with luminarias; the ceremonial reenactments of Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter, called posadas; and the dramatic American Indian Christmas Eve celebration that takes over the main square in Taos Pueblo. Plus, you can ski all day long on Christmas Day at Taos Ski Resort, 18 miles away.

Best Place to Stay: Near the town square, El Monte Sagrado Living Resort and Spa features objects from around the world culture in its spare, elegant rooms. Book a room with a fireplace to up the cozy factor. Doubles from $309. Have Christmas dinner on twinkling Ledoux Street, at the seven-table hideaway Byzantium, with dishes like shrimp ceviche and grilled pork scaloppine with apple, cabbage, and mustard-seed compote. Reservations are a must.


Chicago
The Windy City embraces yuletide cheer to the max, with a million holiday lights along bustling Magnificent Mile; Christkindlmarket, a huge outdoor German crafts market with beer and fare like sausages to stoke your fire; a towering handmade Christmas tree; and Navy Pier’s Winter WonderFest, a holiday-themed amusement park and indoor skating rink.

Where to Stay: Peppy, tropical-themed Hotel Monaco Chicago is a Kimpton boutique hotel with verve and a sense of humor. Its wild combo of lime and plum is eye-popping, and there’s a free social hour with wine and nibbles from 5 to 6 p.m. daily. And, it’s in The Loop. Doubles from $129.

Holiday Dinner: Cozy wine-driven eatery the Cellar at Bin 36 is serving its creative, locally sourced menu ($110) from 5 p.m. on Christmas Day. Starter highlights like semolina-crusted soft-shell crab and Applewood smoked bacon sausage are followed by the likes of a star-anise duck-leg confit with crispy potato Rösti, grilled Angus New York strip steak with truffled celery purée, and wild-mushroom and Gruyère cannelloni. Expert wine pairings are, of course, de rigueur.

Stocking Stuffers: The Chicago Architecture Foundation Shop is a must for Chicago-centric fare like Frank Lloyd Wright notecards, Lego sets of iconic buildings, or a round Chicago-sewer doormat.


Suzanne Brevelle is from Lafayette and works at Avenues To Travel. You can contact her via email Suzanne@avenues2travel.com or telephone 337-231-5656. She is a Certified Specialist for Sandal’s and Beaches Resorts as well as Grand Cayman, Jamaica and Hawaii. Her specialty is couples and family vacations, groups, honeymoons and corporate travel.

Tips for Belt Loop Maintenance During Hunting Season, Football Games, and Business Dinners

By Yvette Quantz

This month I am going to highlight some tips and tricks for the guy who is trying to maintain his waistline...but does not want to eat like a chick. I know some of you may be laughing right now, but seriously there are a few tricks that can pull you through the next two months without going up a notch on your belt loop. The best part is, no one even needs to know you are reading this—it’s our little secret! For you ladies, please still read on and pass this along to the man in your life.

Your How To Plan:
At the Camp:
I talked with a few hunters, including a friend who is a Professional Trainer and my husband and I asked— “What do you eat at the hunting or fishing camp?” Of course I received the same response, first a little laughter then “Certainly not healthy! We eat eggs, biscuits, bacon, gravy, it’s all about the gravy! Oh, and night time we may fry what we kill or make a stew and of course there is the alcohol, lots of it!”

Here are 3 simple tips to slash hundreds of calories during your next hunting trip.

1. Be a wise guy at the breakfast table. Make an egg sandwich with toast and 2 eggs instead of the bacon, egg, and biscuit platter. This can easily slash 300—500 calories.
2. Water down your scotch—or whatever you beverage of choice. Instead of drinking your beverage straight up or mixing with sugar loaded soda, use water instead. This will not only help prevent a big hangover, but it will also save you from consuming too many empty calories.
3. Stick with grilled game. Most game is actually low in fat and high in protein, therefore just by making a decision to grill your game instead of frying or stewing your meat you can save tons of extra calories and fat.

During the Dinner Meeting:
This is always a popular topic among business professionals. How do you dine out while still managing your weight? Here are three simple tips that can help save thousands of calories over the course of a few meals.

1. Avoid going to the table starving, which means no meal or snack skipping. When you arrive at the dinner table starving, your will power goes out the door which can easily result in you over indulging in some not so good for you foods.
2. Politely say “no thank you” to the free stuff. If it is free at your dinner table then it is probably no good for your waistline. If you are not careful you can easily consume an extra 300—500 calories just while waiting for your actual meal to arrive.
3. Be cautious of the before dinner salad. While I cannot argue with the benefits of eating some roughage before a meal to ward off hunger, the truth is that those fancy before dinner salads can be loaded with extra calories. The dressing, cheese, bacon bits, nuts and dried fruit can really add up. If you are wanting a before meal appetizer consider ordering a shrimp cocktail or a plain salad without fancy toppings.

At the Game:

1. Eat before you go. Before heading out the door eat a sustaining mini meal. This little technique will help ward off hunger and prevent you from diving into the basket of chips and dips.
2. Drink some water. Staying hydrated is essential for so many reasons. Bring a water bottle with you and take a few slugs in between your favorite beverage of choice. When ordering a beverage from the concession stand - think H20.
3. When all else fails order a meal that will cut of hunger rather than just snacking to "buy" time. A standard stadium hot dog with no fancy toppings will run you about 300 - 400 calories. Please know, I am not endorsing hot dogs, or saying they are the new health food, I am just suggesting that sometimes it may be better for your waistline to order something that will satisfy you instead of snacking. Buttered popcorn, nachos, and even peanuts (which the portion size can really add up) can easily amount to an additional 500 - 1200 calories to your day. Also, when we just order a "snack" it is part of our human nature will forget the snack and feel we need to eat a "meal".

Yvette Quantz is a well respected Lifestyle and Sports Nutritionist based in Lafayette, Louisiana. She is a member of the American Dietetic Association, Louisiana Dietetic Association, Sports Cardiovascular and Wellness Nutritionist, Nutrition Entrepreneurs, Nutrition and Complimentary Care, and a Certified Eating Coach. You can visit her website at: http://www.foodtherapyonline.com/

Foodspirations!

If you're not following our Special Contributor, Yvette Quantz, on twitter check her out....every once in a while she tweets special "Foodspirations." Here's a collection of some of her more recent entries:By Yvette Quantz

Hi Everyone! I hope you had a great week. I know I enjoyed my time off, I completed my first marathon and crossing the finish line was an incredible feeling. Then I celebrated my 30th birthday! I think the best part of it all was knowing how if you set your mind to a goal, write it down, and just go for it you can do it. Today I would like for you to think about a goal you want to set. Write it down. Now go for it! Have a great week!

* Increase your nutrient profile by eating a different colored fruit or vegetable at each meal and snack.

* Looking to socialize this weekend with friends and family? Try getting together for a walk, run, or bike ride - instead of traditional feasting!

* Tailgaiting this weekend? Switch from Regular Beer to Beck's Light = save 100 calories per beer! Remember simply cutting 100 calories a day = 10 pounds over the course of a year!

* Today challenge yourself to park in the furthest parking spot from your destination. Running late for a meeting? Well this will just make you move a little faster to get there :)

* To increase vegetable intake, try pre-cutting your favorites and storing in some water in a container in the fridge. The water will help hold in their crispness and having them prepared and chopped in advance will make it much easier to munch on when you get hungry for a snack.

* Did you know being sleep deprived can actually hinder your weight loss efforts? This weekend try and catch up on some zzz's!

* Challenge yourself with a personal push - up challenge. Get into the push up position (either on your toes, knees, or supported against the wall) and see how many push ups you can do. Write the number down and in 4 - 6 weeks I will suggest another push up challenge. If you work at it the change in what you can do will be amazing!

* Did you know that your body is made of about 70% water? Have you hydrated yourself today? If not it's not too late - go now and drink up!

* Increasing your daily fiber intake to the recommended 20 - 35 grams per day not only helps control hunger levels but also helps regulate your blood sugar, decrease total cholesterol and decrease risk for corectol cancer.

* Try incorporating some interval training into your workout routine. No matter where you are in your fitness journey, interval training is the perfect mix to push you to the next level.


Yvette Quantz is a well respected Lifestyle and Sports Nutritionist based in Lafayette, Louisiana. She is a member of the American Dietetic Association, Louisiana Dietetic Association, Sports Cardiovascular and Wellness Nutritionist, Nutrition Entrepreneurs, Nutrition and Complimentary Care, and a Certified Eating Coach. You can visit her website at: http://www.foodtherapyonline.com/

The End of Gnatcatcher Days

By Paul Conover

On the eve of the last day in September, there's a hint of seasonal change in the air. The air's relatively cool, a steady breeze is sneaking around, and a few migrants are feeding up in the backyard. I'm not ready to claim that the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness has arrived; a quick look at the 10 day forecast puts that dream back to sleep. Still, with October barely 24 hours away, there's no denying that we're coming to the end of the Gnatcatcher Days.

I happen to like August and September birding. I've been down to the coast probably every weekend in the past two months and I can only think of two or three birdwatchers I've even crossed paths with. During the same span I have crossed paths with some pretty good birding days. In the woods I've seen a handful of Olive-sided Flycatchers, Mourning Warblers, and Bell's Vireos, and a couple dozen Yellow-bellied Flycatchers and Traill's Flycatchers. The beach has produced a few Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a couple of California Gulls, and some nice shorebirds. Inland, there's been good kingbird and scissor-tail action and good looks at every swallow on the state list. But the bird that's really emblematic of the dog days this year and every year is the tiny Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. These winged mice have been constant companions no matter what habitat I've birded in, and they haven't been shy about letting their presence be known. In August and September in Southwestern Louisiana, you're never far from a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. These are the Gnatcatcher Days.

Story continues here...

Paul Conover has pursued the hobby of bird watching for many years and is well versed on the various types of birds seen here in Southwest Louisiana.

Fighting Breast Cancer

By Yvette Quantz

"According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), an estimated 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed among women in the United States this year. An estimated 40,170 women are expected to die from the disease in 2009 alone. Today, there are about 2.5 million breast cancer survivors living in the United States.” (www.nbcam.org)

If you are concerned about developing breast cancer or concerned about a loved one, please read on.

Your How to Plan for Fighting Breast Cancer

1. Exercise. If you don’t enjoy traditional forms of exercise here are a few ideas that will still get you're your heart pumping (and can actually be way more fun!)

• Sign up for a dance class. A few examples include: Zumba, ballroom dancing, hip hop, tap, and ballet.
• Schedule thirty minutes a day, three times a week to play outside. Playing an old fashioned game of kickball, soccer, or tag will not only get your body moving but also create lasting memories.
• Wear a pedometer and just challenge yourself to walk 10,000 steps per day. That is equivalent to walking 3 miles! Once you are regularly reaching your 10,000 steps per day goal, increase it to 12,000, then 15,000 steps per day.

2. Aim to eat a serving of beans or lentils at least twice a week.

• One night a week swap your traditional meat and potatoes dinner for beans and brown rice. You can make this interesting by cooking white beans, lentil stew, or split pea soup. Be cautious not to negate the health benefits of beans by adding high fat, processed meats to the pot; instead try going vegetarian one night a week.
• For your second serving of beans serve black beans, lima beans, or black eyed peas as a side dish to your meal.

3. Increase fruit and vegetable intake.

• Start your day with an antioxidant and fiber packed blueberry shake.
• For lunch have a bright salad with broccoli, yellow squash, tomatoes, garbanzo beans, and topped with salmon.
• Mid morning and mid afternoons, try snacking on raw vegetables with hummus or fresh fruit and nuts.
• At dinner set a goal to have at least 3 different colors of foods on your plate (i.e. roasted sweet potatoes, steamed broccoli, black beans, and stir fried red, yellow and green bell peppers).

4. Increase intake of Monounsaturated fats and Omega-3 fatty acids in your diet.

• Include more legumes, nuts, and seeds, seafood, canola oil, and flax seeds into your daily food routine.
• Add fresh ground flax seeds to your breakfast smoothie, opt to eat more seafood and less red meat, try snacking on nuts and seeds instead of traditional packaged foods.

More Tips:

• Decrease high fat foods and meat intake
• Increase fiber intake
• Limit alcohol
• Include more roasted garlic or try cooking with more garlic
• Eat soy and soy products in moderation
• Research has found that breastfeeding may reduce breast cancer risk by half

Yvette Quantz is a well respected Lifestyle and Sports Nutritionist based in Lafayette, Louisiana. She is a member of the American Dietetic Association, Louisiana Dietetic Association, Sports Cardiovascular and Wellness Nutritionist, Nutrition Entrepreneurs, Nutrition and Complimentary Care, and a Certified Eating Coach. You can visit her website at: http://www.foodtherapyonline.com/

Thanksgiving In The Big Apple

By Suzanne Brevelle

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is one of those events that everyone should experience in person. Start with accommodations at hotels on or near the parade route, so you can be right in the middle of all the holiday joy! Avenues To Travel has 4-nights and longer vacation packages at these popular hotels:

• Novotel New York Hotel from $770
• Sheraton New York Hotel from $781.50
• Crowne Plaza Times Square from $939

And you can add these exclusive options to make your vacation an even more memorable experience:

Insider's View Parade Breakfast at the Renaissance New York Hotel $359
Enjoy the famous parade from a private lounge on the 2nd floor of the Renaissance New York Hotel right at Times Square, including Wednesday afternoon sightseeing tour to the Parade Balloon Inflation Site or Thursday afternoon Holiday Lights Tour.

Insider's View Parade Breakfast at the Sheraton New York Hotel $439
This is a very special indoor party overlooking the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, including Wednesday afternoon sightseeing tour to the Parade Balloon Inflation Site or Thursday afternoon Holiday Lights Tour

Insider's View Parade Breakfast at the Marriott Marquis Broadway Lounge $459
Breakfast Buffet beginning at 8am Thanksgiving morning ... then watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade from the 8th floor Broadway Lounge of the Marriott Marquis - including Wednesday afternoon sightseeing tour to the Parade Balloon Inflation Site or Thursday afternoon Holiday Lights Tour

Stay Warm at Applebee's $39
Enjoy the sights and sounds of the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade on Broadway with the convenience and comfort of an indoor facility at your disposal where you can relax, unwind, have a bite to eat or a warm beverage, use restroom facilities, and escape unkind weather! (Note: no parade view)

Dinner and All the Trimmings $65
Thanksgiving Dinner Buffet with all the trimmings at the Manhattan Club at Rosie O'Grady's.
Seatings at 4pm, 5:45pm and 7:30pm.

Breakfast with Santa $29
Exclusive limited seating breakfast with Santa on Friday morning. Why fight the crowds and large lines for a moment with Santa when you can share in this intimate gathering? Breakfast and photo included!

You can add tickets to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring the Rockettes or a Broadway show like Jersey Boys, Wicked or Chicago, add sightseeing options, museum admissions, dining reservations ... it's easy to do with Avenues To Travel.

All Thanksgiving vacations include:
* Accommodations for 4-nights or longer at a midtown Manhattan hotel
* All state and local taxes
* Add optional events, Broadway tickets, sightseeing, tours, museum admissions or dining
* Bonus admissions to popular New York City sites and attractions, and much more

Suzanne Brevelle is from Lafayette and works at Avenues To Travel. You can contact her via email Suzanne@avenues2travel.com or telephone 337-231-5656. She is a Certified Specialist for Sandal’s and Beaches Resorts as well as Grand Cayman, Jamaica and Hawaii. Her specialty is couples and family vacations, groups, honeymoons and corporate travel.

GIMME, GIMME, GIMME

By Cecil Doyle

Givers are already putting their name to the test. With only a modest number of live performances and a newly released five-song e.p. under their belts, this young Lafayette area quintet have already managed to make a quick, loud, impressive and beautiful noise. Having caught the attention of Brooklyn-based indie rock darlings, Dirty Projectors; the group has landed an opening slot on a leg of their current tour next month that will run through Baltimore, Philadelphia, D.C., Atlanta and Austin. An October 25th downtown appearance at Nitetown will certainly be a high water mark in their brief career.

Combining intricately weaving, lofty vocal harmonies and moves (courtesy of Taylor Guarisco and Tif 'Teddy' Lamson) with innovative beds of seemingly ever-evolving rhythms derived from musical traditions as diverse as South African township jive, guitar-ringing Congolese soukous, Latin salsa, Jamaican ska and pure Eighties dancewave; Givers have formulated one of the most infectious and commercially viable sounds to come out of this town in quite some time.

Their debut recording has just been released. Surprisingly, it was put out under the Valcour imprint (the bold, upstart South Louisiana roots music label headed by Joel Savoy and Lucius Fontenot). It's a simply amazing endeavor featuring just five new tracks (one of them being a sort of 'dub' remix of the opening number, "Up, Up, Up") with backings provided by Will Henderson (keyboards, samples, sax & flute), Josh LeBlanc (bass, trumpet) and Kirby Campbell (drums, percussion). It's a happy sound - a positive, elevating and danceable vibe that's all but sorely missing from much of today's music. Their live shows are pure grinfests. Every few seconds, the numbers shift styles and musical nods while remaining solidly whole and rhythmically capturing. Your tailbone gets pinched and involuntarily rotated, whether you like that sort of thing or not! There's a faint familiarity akin to what Talking Heads (or more accurately, their offshoots - The Tom Tom Club) brought to Popular Music circa 1977-1982, that being the fusion of new music sensibilities with a variety of international styles accenting soaring and twisting vocals and backbeats. The result is total 21st Century, however. That they can and have done so much with so little (in material and time) is a testament to their potential.

For more on Givers, check out their webpage at www.myspace.com/giversmusic or Valcour Records' site at www.valcourrecords.com


Cecil Doyle, originally from Mamou, knows everything there is to know about music. He hosts the Medicine Ball Caravan every Monday - Thursday at 11am and Jah Mon heard weekly on KRVS 88.7. He also serves at the station's Music Contact.

Fueling Foods

By Yvette Quantz

As many of you know I am in the process of training for my first full marathon. I am scheduled to run the Twin Cities Marathon on October 4, 2009—just 4 days before my thirtieth birthday! The sixteen week training program I have been following has been an incredible journey, not only physically challenging but also challenging my mind and spirit. This month I wanted to share with you some basic fueling principles for endurance training.

If you have ever dreamed of running or walking a half or full marathon I encourage you to do it. Set a date, tell your family and friends, and begin training. I know there are two events coming up - the White Rock Half Marathon in December and the New Orleans Full and Half Marathon and February - go for it!

What you eat before, during, and after your program can be the key to your success. There are four essential principles to follow when training for an endurance event.

• Being hydrated
• Proper fuel intake
• Following the correct training program
• Rest days

Staying Hydrated
Staying hydrated is essential for optimal performance. Hydration does not happen during your run, it happens before. Fluid consumption during your run is referred to as “re-hydrating”; if you start out already dehydrated you could be setting yourself up for major complications. The best way to monitor hydration status is to monitor the color of your urine. Your urine should be pale yellow. If urine is dark then this is a sign you are dehydrated. A general rule of thumb is to drink half your body weight in ounces, then on exercise days make sure to take in 6 – 8 oz fluid every 15 minutes. When exercising in the heat of the summer it is important to also hydrate with a beverage that contains electrolytes – sodium and potassium.

Fueling Foods
Pre-Run Fueling Basics:
For optimal performance during training and race day proper fuel is essential. Foods rich in carbohydrates such as whole grains, oats, beans, sweet potatoes, fresh fruits and vegetables should make up about fifty percent of your energy needs. Since your muscles will only store carbohydrates (and not protein) as glycogen, it is important to fuel up on quality carbohydrates to ensure adequate glycogen stores for your event.

Pre-Exercise Fuel Sources:
Oatmeal with low fat milk, walnuts and fresh fruit, 100% whole grain bread with peanut butter and a little honey , 100% whole grain bagel with almond butter and banana, Whole wheat pasta with chicken breast, vegetables and tomato sauce

Fueling During Your Run:
A general rule of thumb is if you are running less than 45 minutes to 1 hour you do not need to re-fuel while running. If running last more than 1 hour it is essential to re-fuel every 30 – 40 minutes. During your run your body will respond better with simple carbohydrates compared to complex carbohydrates because they are easier to digest

Fuel for the Run:
Bananas, Peanut butter and honey sandwich, Power Bars, Sports Drinks, Gu’s and other quick energy nutrition supplements

Fuel for Recovery:
Immediately after a run there is a 30 minute window of opportunity your body has to up regulate and utilize nutrients to build and repair muscle tissue. Consume quick digesting carbohydrates and a quality protein for adequate recovery. The more time that elapses after a run without re-fueling, the more your glycogen replenishment and protein repair is compromised.

Recovery Foods:
Smoothie made with skim milk, blueberries, and flax seed oil, Chocolate Milk, Low fat cottage cheese with fresh fruit, granola, and honey, turkey sandwich with fresh squeezed juice


Yvette Quantz is a well respected Lifestyle and Sports Nutritionist based in Lafayette, Louisiana. She is a member of the American Dietetic Association, Louisiana Dietetic Association, Sports Cardiovascular and Wellness Nutritionist, Nutrition Entrepreneurs, Nutrition and Complimentary Care, and a Certified Eating Coach. You can visit her website at: http://www.foodtherapyonline.com/

Spend Halloween In Transylvania

By Suzanne Brevelle

October would be a great time for a Spooky vacation and here's a great travel deal going on right now:

Oct 28, 2009 - Welcome to Romania!
Arrive in Bucharest, capital of Romania. Transfers to the Train Station. Short trip along the Prahova Valley to the Royal Resort city of Sinaia, located in the Carpathian Mountains.

Oct 29, 2009 – Royal palaces
More than a century ago Peles castle took shape and substance from fairy-tales and dreams about royalty. This exquisitely detailed landmark, set amidst sculpture gardens and fountains, was the summer residence of Romanian Royal family. Inside you'll see beautiful collections of mediaeval weaponry, stained glass, silk rugs and furniture. Today we visit the Bran Castle, built in 1377 by master masons of Brasov on a cliff, dominating the whole region. Then on our way to Sighisoara we shall visit the city of Brasov, one of the largest mediaeval towns in Transylvania. We will see old fortification ruins of the former burg, the narrow and tortuous streets, the old baroque houses with their bulky arched gates, stills and keeps in the mediavel downtown. Visit Black Church - built between 1385-1477 one of the most important Gothic art monuments in Romania, impressive by its massiveness, the richness of architecture and its historical background. Overnight within the walls of mediaeval Sighisoara Citadel.

Oct 30, 2009 – A taste of Transylvania
This morning we shall drive to Sibiu – a city mentioned for the first time in documents in 1192 under the name of Cibinum, one of the most romantic cities of Romania. Through the Council Tower we arrive in the Small Square which is the old commercial center of the fortified citadel. The Liars Bridge is the first Cast Iron Bridge in Romania. Its name comes from the false love declarations young people used to promise each other in the evening. One of the most impressive fortified churches in Southern Transylvania is Biertan, built in 1302 as a Hungarian border fortification. Biertan is better known as the residence of the Lutheran Transylvanian Bishops for almost 300 years but is also connected to Vlad the Impaler’s life, in 1459 he was appointed to the Prince. Return to Sighisoara in the evening for an optional Witch Trial. Overnight within the walls of mediaeval Sighisoara.

Oct 31, 2009 – Sighisoara at Halloween time
Sighisoara is the best-preserved 15th century walled town in Europe. On the present 'Hill of the Citadel' ('Dealul Cetatii'), the upper town, a stronghold, was erected in the 2nd. half of the 12th. Century. Nowadays, Sighisoara is synonym to the European Middle Age in Romania. Here lived, between 1431-1435, Vlad Dracul (Vlad the Devil), future Prince of Wallachia, thus called because the German Emperor knighted him as Knight of the Dragon. He was Vlad the Impaler's father, known as Dracula (the son of the Devil), born most probably here in Sighisoara, in 1431.The actual 15th. Century house where Prince Vlad Dracul was born has been turned into a restaurant and a museum full of interesting flavors and artifacts.

Day 5 – Beyond Transylvania
This morning we leave Sighisoara for Bucharest and say goodbye to these stories about Prince Vlad - Dracula. In the early evening, we pay a visit to Village Museum and see how Bucharest looked a millennium ago. Tonight you shall re-enter the domains of The Count, this time at his residence in Bucharest, not far from the ruins of his court. Overnight in Bucharest.

Day 6 – Good bye dear romantics of the world!
Pending time available, visit the "House of the People" (today known as the Parliament’s Palace), an enormous building built on orders from the late communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu - himself compared often to a vampire for his thirst of power. Many human lives and historic buildings were sacrificed for the erection of the palace.

Suzanne Brevelle is from Lafayette and works at Avenues To Travel. You can contact her via email Suzanne@avenues2travel.com or telephone 337-231-5656. She is a Certified Specialist for Sandal’s and Beaches Resorts as well as Grand Cayman, Jamaica and Hawaii. Her specialty is couples and family vacations, groups, honeymoons and corporate travel.

Bell's Vireo

By Paul Conover

This is one of my favorite times of year. Days are hot, but mornings and evenings are temperate. Migration is active but not so flashy that everyone is out. It's not uncommon to have a birding hotspot all to myself when I head out, and there are some pretty nice birds drifting through almost unseen.

This is the time of year to get out and look for regular but low-frequency migrants like Mourning Warbler and Olive-sided Flycatcher, and for spectacular longshots like Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher. It's also the time to try to document migrants that are probably a little more common than we realize, like Bell's Vireo.

Bell's Vireos are hard to find even when you know they're around, and chances are that a few pass through when we're not around, these hot dry days of migration when fall birding is still just a gleam in many birders' eyes. Bell's are also drab, so a quick look at one of them isn't the slam dunk that a look at a male Mourning Warbler might be.

Story continues here.


Paul Conover has pursued the hobby of bird watching for many years and is well versed on the various types of birds seen here in Southwest Louisiana.

Local Bin

By Cecil Doyle

Always liked the term, "Howdie". Be it my earliest cathode-tube-recall of Buffalo Bob on the receiving end of quips & retorts from the wooden Mr. Doody or Cousin Minnie Pearl screeching the term in hickatonic glee; it's very sound as satisfying as a heaping plate of rice 'n gravy. That being said, the area band of hayseed stompers known as The Howdies have self-released a batch of 15 dittties that both simmer and satisfy. With production help from Jay Burton, they've packaged and released a homespun, knee-slap of an album with the boastful title, MADE WITH PURE LIGHTNING. Julian Primeaux more or less fronts the outfit on lead vocals and guitar, flanked by bassist Christopher Slim and the Keller boys (Stuart: harmonica, kazoo & vocals / Austin: percussion & gadgets) waxing it down in back.

They've been a semi-regular staple of the area club scene for at least the past couple of years and this effort definitely bears the fruit of that season. From the opening toe-tapper, "Bogalusa Stomp" on through the finality expressed in "Long Pine Box", a whoopin' good time is guaranteed for all. The bolt bursting bottle of spirit-lifting elixir pictured on the disc's cover, flanked by rusty hammer and fading wallpaper speaks volumes on the sound made within. For more info, check it out at either www.thehowdies.com or www.rerumnovarumrecords.com.

Longtime Lafayette area guitar hero, Micheal Juan Nunez has just released the follow-up to his last disc, ABOUT TO SNAP (which has continuously remained a constant in a good majority of KRVS' programming for the past few years). THE AMERICAN ELECTRIC boasts 12 fine new originals and is MJN's most diverse effort to date. Besides remaining a torch bearer to the Lafayette Slide Sound so prevalent and masterful in the styles of Sonny Landreth and Roddie Romero; Micheal's fingerprints also stream out of Seventies New York-styled punk ("Punks Like You"), true Delta spirit ("Coming Home", "Mr. Jones"), breezy Soul ("Groove With Me"), sexy Prince-like funky bravado ("Hard Sometimes") and a surprising foray into 1920s crooning ala Rudy Vallee ("Goodbye"). In fact overall, his vocal approach comes off as more relaxed and self-assured than ever on this outting which also boasts several fine examples of continuous track sequencing, an art seemingly abandoned by most these days. With the track record of his former band, Riverbabys as well as sitting in with established area artists like Roddie Romero & the Hub City All Stars on a pretty regular basis; Micheal Juan is poised as one of the true bedrocks of Lafayette's musical soundscape. Sample tracks from THE AMERICAN ELECTRIC on his website at www.michealjuannunez.com.

No commercially available recording has arrived yet from Sam Rey. Neither have they gigged much (having to my knowledge, performed maybe just once or twice in public, thus far). But this should in no way deter you from searching out one of the area's best kept new secrets. Like ominous smoke rings lifting from the ashes of Bluerunners (the band who in my humble opinion were most emblematic of the sum of everything musical about the Lafayette area for the past twenty-something years), Mark Meaux and Will Golden ARE Sam Rey. When they debuted recently at The Blue Moon Saloon, a small gathering of locals witnessed a truly unique musical experience. Sitting comfortably side-by-side near the front edge of the tiny stage, an antique lamp table (complete with working lamp) between them serving as platform for their accompanying effects / drum machine; they wailed a brief set of down home, blues-informed dittys that bore little resemblance of the dance inducing rhythms that fueled their former long running vehicle. Meaux's Dylan-by-the-way-of-Grand Coteau-esque vocal delivery stews perfectly with the duo's rootsy musical plate peppered to the fullest by multi-instrumentalist Will Golden on a variety of stringed instruments (steel & slide guitars, banjo, etc.). Every tune sounded like home.....even the spacey, transmission static employed on great original numbers like "Satellite Lights" (perhaps because that particular tune leaves me feeling like I've just walked on the moon!). Besides being able to catch fleeting moments of their tracks regularly on my own weekday radio program on KRVS; about the only other way to currently catch a batch of Sam Rey is by checking out their MySpace page (www.myspace.com/7samrey) or just 'google' or 'bing' them up on your computer and something is bound to happen. Try and keep the feet still with "March On" or wonder just when the New Orleans Tourist Commission will catch hold of and use their new track, "Meet Me In New Orleans" and slap it on every television and radio commercial they produce over the next five years. Expect pure brightness from Sam Rey!


Cecil Doyle, originally from Mamou, knows everything there is to know about music. He hosts the Medicine Ball Caravan every Monday - Thursday at 11am and Jah Mon heard weekly on KRVS 88.7. He also serves at the station's Music Contact.

UL Fall Semester

So, the first day of school was quite busy! I only had 4 classes, but 2 of them are each 2 hours long. In addition to that, my day just starts out really early. 8 o'clock AM. Once my classes ended, I got to spend a lot of money on books and art supplies! It was really fun getting to pick out the different charcoal and graphite pencils, conte sticks, erasers, and sketchbooks that I'll be using for my drawing and design classes. The only negative "issue" that occurred was the fact that people parked in my parking zone WITHOUT a parking permit! I pay 45 dollars a semester for a parking spot which I did not get to park in. I hope they all get tickets. Besides the inconvenience, my day was great. I love my classes, the teachers, and everything.

Day two. I had one class today which was Honors seminar. On normal days, we vote on a certain topic and the next class period, they'll have someone come in and give a presentation about the topic we chose. Today, we didn't have topics chosen so the class was rather boring and we got out 20 minutes early. I bought even more art supplies and a text book. I hate how books are so expensive! Even the used ones are way over-priced.

Olivia Melancon is from Lafayette and a first time freshman at ULL. She is documenting her experiences here in a special series for The Daily Meaux

Reflecting On Woodstock...40 Years On

By Cecil Doyle

Damn, I'm old! Has it really been forty years since Woodstock??!! The absolute apex event of the Peace 'n Love Counterculture, the Woodstock Music & Art Fair was a moment in time that will never be duplicated...the defining moment of a dream realized but never quite attained. One can only ponder the curdled milkshakes concocted by all of those uncontented cows both on and surrounding Max Yasgur's 600-acre dairy farm on that fateful weekend of August 15th-18th of 1969. Planets shifted, rain fell hard and rock exploded in a happening where legend, myth and music converged into what (both happily and with remorse) became the foundation of a brickhouse of bohemia that infiltrated mainstream America, forever changing it's socialscape. 'Twasn't long before headbands, headshops and hippie-inspired flops flooded even the most rural of Louisiana parishes.

Thirty-two acts and a couple of swamis supplied the focus and soundtrack to an event that literally mothered a generation. The opportunity for true social change was in the air and never more tangible than that fateful weekend (only to be infamously snuffed out a mere four months later at Altamont). Alternative lifestyles spread like viruses once the half-million attendees assimilated back into rural USA. A defining moment and cause for riotous celebration.

If you were alive that summer, I don't know what YOU were doing but I stayed glued to my radio. Sweeter music was rarely heard over the airwaves. Music that year was uber-inspired and the line-up for the Festival reflected brightly on what was going down. Jimi Hendrix, Joan Baez, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Canned Heat, Jefferson Airplane, Sly & the Family Stone and Blood, Sweat & Tears were already proven chart toppers. Meanwhile, artists like Joe Cocker, Richie Havens, CSNY, Ten Years After, Mountain, Melanie, Sha-Na-Na and Santana were introduced to the world at large and were household names within a year once the three-plus hour Academy Award winning Micheal Wadleigh documentary hit movie theaters and drive-ins a mere year later. We could finally view moving chunks of what we'd all heard it was like to be there. Looking back, one of the most remarkable aspects of this gargantuan social & musical event was the absolute absence of commercialism in so many aspects of the Festival. Not a single corporate logo can be spotted in the miles of film footage shot ....as refreshing as a skinny dip in Fillippini Pond which backdropped the large, crudely-built, bare wooden stage where history was being made. Compare that to the cheese-czar debacle dubbed "Woodstock '99", some thirty years after the fact.

The other night, I watched my Woodstock film DVD with my nineteen-year old son, Dex - he was eager and curious to see a four-hour moving snapshot of what he'd grown up hearing so much about; his dad smiling at not only the thought that maybe his son had grown up just like him (pardons, Harry Chapin) but at the prospect that the very juice that greased the Woodstock crowd had seeped past Generations Us, Me, Blank, X, Y and Z.

Columbia Legacy has issued a series of complete performances from the event earlier this summer by Santana, Jefferson Airplane, Sly & the Family Stone and Johnny Winter dubbed THE WOODSTOCK EXPERIENCE. The Rhino label also reissued the landmark film soundtrack just the way you remembered, a remastered 'Woodstock' film DVD with an extra three hours of performance footage never before seen and a host of books, interviews and celebrations are all readily accessible. My own weekday morning radio program, Medicine Ball Caravan on KRVS (11am on 88.7FM or www.krvs.org) has been airing performance segments for the past five Wednesdays. This will all culminate with a full five days of nothing but these performances when we host 'Woodstock Week' on August 10, 11, 12, 13 and 17th. No breaks, announcements or concert calenders....just the sounds of a generation. As Hog Farm head, Hugh Romney announced from the stage on that fateful day with gap-toothed glee:

"What we have in mind is breakfast in bed for 400,000. We must be in Heaven, man!....there's always a little bit of Heaven in a disaster area". Keep feedin' us, Hugh......we're still just wakin' up.....and hungry.


Cecil Doyle, originally from Mamou, knows everything there is to know about music. He hosts the Medicine Ball Caravan every Monday - Thursday at 11am and Jah Mon heard weekly on KRVS 88.7. He also serves at the station's Music Contact.

Low Down on Detox Dieting

By Yvette Quantz

Detox diets are the latest health craze. Whether it is Beyonce’s 10 day maple syrup, lemon juice and cayenne pepper fast, the 21 Day Cleanse, or a few days of juicing; it seems people everywhere are discussing the best way to detox. Advocates claim the strict regime results in more energy, improved digestion, decreased inflammation and weight loss. While this can be true if following the proper program under the supervision of a trained health care professional, not all detox programs are created equally nor do they come with a guarantee of no serious side effects. Read on to learn more.

What is a detox diet?
Detox diets can range from eliminating caffeine, alcohol, processed foods, sugar, wheat, red meat, pork, fried foods, cheese, cream, butter, etc. from the diet to doing something more extreme like The Master Cleanser by Stanely Burroughs.
What should I look for in a Detox Program?

1. Focuses on whole foods, not a bunch of supplements. Whole foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds will provide a variety of antioxidants to assist the liver in the detoxification process.

2. Consuming adequate protein to support your activity level. Inadequate protein consumption can result in your body losing muscle mass. This can ultimately lead to a decrease in your metabolism, which over the course of time can negatively affect weight loss goals.

3. Include both mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids in your diet. Not only will good fats help ward off hunger, but they are also also essential in providing energy for cell function during detoxification.

Is a Detox Right for Me?
If you think a detox is what you need to get things moving in the right direction then I have some good news! Following the proper detox program can help you remove some unhealthy behaviors or habits from your current lifestyle.


Detoxing Disclaimer:
There is little documented scientific evidence that these diets are effective at removing toxins from your body; many medical experts will tell you that your body is equipped with its own mechanism for removing toxins. If you do decide to follow a detox diet, just as with any other drastic diet change, consult with your physician. People who should not participate in a detox diet include individuals who struggle with diabetes, hypoglycemia or an eating disorder. Growing children, teens, and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should also not detox.


Yvette Quantz is a well respected Lifestyle and Sports Nutritionist based in Lafayette, Louisiana. She is a member of the American Dietetic Association, Louisiana Dietetic Association, Sports Cardiovascular and Wellness Nutritionist, Nutrition Entrepreneurs, Nutrition and Complimentary Care, and a Certified Eating Coach. You can visit her website at: http://www.foodtherapyonline.com/

What's Next

By Paul Conover

When I was a kid, there were certain birds I'd look at in my Golden Guide and dream of seeing someday. Some, like California Condor, had impossibly tiny dots on their range maps. Others, like White-tailed Kite, had slightly larger ranges marked on their maps, but their ranges were so far from my home that I figured I'd be lucky to ever see them. This didn't stop me from searching the countryside around my house for them; I held out hope that one would take a wrong turn someday and drift over my way. Hope is the thing with wings, after all. Then again, I also held out hope that a pirate ship would sail up the creek behind my house and take me away to live a life of adventure.

Anyway, some birds were especially intriguing. The Cave Swallow was so limited in its range that it didn't even get its own map. Even its account got short shrift.

Here it is in its entirety:
Very local in spring and summer near Carlsbad Cavern, N. Mex., and in south-central Texas. Like Cliff Swallow except for buffy throat. Nests in limestone caves.

Clearly, Cave Swallow was a bird that took some doing to see.

Story continues here...


Paul Conover has pursued the hobby of bird watching for many years and is well versed on the various types of birds seen here in Southwest Louisiana.

Apple To Save The Album?

By David Moore

An article at the Financial Times reports that Apple is teaming up with the four largest record labels in an effort to save the album. In case you haven't been paying attention, Apple's iTunes Music Store is the largest music retailer in the U.S., though most sales are of cherry-picked singles - not many of us are ponying up for the full album. The plan is to begin bundling liner notes, lyric sheets, and other interactive content with full album downloads, hoping to boost album sales in the process. One executive was quoted as saying "It's all about re-creating the heyday of the album when you could sit around with your friends looking at the artwork, while you listened to the music." One assumes it's still up to us to supply the haze in the room.

I may not be your typical music consumer, but as someone who cut his teeth on albums, I've always enjoyed the large format, and I've long been a voracious reader of liner notes. When the industry moved to cassettes, I stuck with albums, making my own cassette copies (TDK SA-90, baby), often on the first spin after purchase. Fast forward a bit, and I had no problems making the switch to CD, but I've been back to the future ever since the MP3 revolution. Yep, I'm still buying whole albums (on CD) 90+ percent of the time, and ripping them into my iPod shortly after. I must admit to questioning this behavior, as there are many CDs that I've only had out of the jewel case once, for the inaugural rip, but I still need those liner notes, the photos, the feel of something physical.

This announcement from Apple may have me changing my tune. With the recent move to many DRM-free, higher quality tracks, the inclusion of liner notes and other content might tip the scale for me, leading to more digital purchases, and fewer CDs. This joint project, code-named "Cocktail," is rumored to be rolling out in September.


David Moore is a technical writer from Broussard. In his spare time he writes a music blog, which you can see here: www.xcursions.net/blog

UL Week 8 Wednesday Last Blog Of The Semester!

I got to change my major today. It took about 10 minutes to change it and to re-do my classes. I still have a bit of tweaking to do to my schedule because at the moment, I'm taking all of the classes possible that have seats left, and I only have 10 credits which doesn't make me full-time.
YAY!! Finally, school is over. At least, for the summer semester. It's been fun, but I can't lie, I'm glad it's over. Well, almost. My math final is at 7:30 AM tomorrow and my English is Friday at 10 or so. After that, I'll be done.

Olivia Melancon is from Lafayette and a first time freshman at ULL. She is documenting her experiences here in a special series for The Daily Meaux