Six months ago I became very ill and was rushed to the emergency room. The hospital doctor diagnosed me with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and Type 2 diabetes. Later my primary care physician confirmed that diagnosis. I spent the next few weeks researching the cause of Type 2 diabetes; I read hundreds of testimonials of people…
My Diabetes Mistakes
I am spending Memorial Day weekend in a hospital. I’ve had 2 diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) attacks this week. I don’t want to write this blog post. I’d rather crawl up in a corner and hide from the world. My tears have been non-stop for days. I’m very embarrassed and incredibly sad that I allowed this…
How I Lost 25 Pounds in 2 Months
Today I am celebrating 2 months of great weight loss success eating a plant-based diet. I’ve lost 25 pounds, have toned muscles, and feel healthier than ever. On January 5, I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. It took me several weeks to understand why I have diabetes and to find my way to my…
The Search for My Ideal Diabetic Diet, Part 3
One month ago, I wrote Why Do I Have Diabetes? while struggling to find the ideal diet to help me reverse my diagnosis. Since transitioning to a whole food plant-based diet, I have lost 10 pounds and feel GREAT! I had previously had success on a whole food plant-based diet, so I attended a 2 Forks event (See what…
Is Popcorn Good for Weight Loss?
After documenting my Learnings from the Whole Food Plant-based “2 Forks” event this weekend, a few people have asked me about a comment made be celebrity Chef AJ. She said, “popcorn is not a weight loss food.” Why? What about air-popped? Chef AJ explained the calorie density method for optimizing weight loss. Calorie density is the number…
Learnings from the Whole Food Plant-based “2 Forks” Event
I am enjoying the 2 Forks event in Pasadena, California today. I’m learning a lot about healthy eating and “reversing” diabetes, so I want to share with others. Rosane Oliviera, DVM, PhD shared great information about how to maximize our health for a goal of being “100 and healthy.” She warned about simply using the…
Learning More about Healthy Eating from “2 Forks”
Today I am at an event called “2 Forks” which is based on the documentaries called “Forks Over Knives” and “Engine 2.” I watched those documentaries a few years ago, and they were very enlightening. Now that I have diabetes, I’m re-focusing on the healthy way of eating that they promote. The event started this…
Why Do I Have Diabetes?
In my last blog post, I shared my type 2 diabetes diagnosis that I learned while having a diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) attack in an ambulance. DKA is usually something that only occurs in type 1 diabetics, but can happen to type 2 diabetics in extreme cases or during an illness. The first 6 weeks after my hospital stay were…
My Diabetes Diagnosis
I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in an ambulance on the way to the emergency room at 5:00am on January 5, 2017. I had the flu for the previous couple of weeks, while vacationing with my family in Panama, Central America. I was not eating well or exercising, and I was quite weak and…
Comparison of Panama City Hotels
To finish up my Panama blog series, following is my comparison of the 12 hotels that I visited throughout Panama City. As you can see, the Hilton is my favorite hotel in Panama City. I’ve written all about it in “My Favorite Hotel in Panama: The Hilton“. The Sheraton was also quite a good value. Overall,…
My “Taste of Waldorf” Panamá Experience
For the past few weeks I have eagerly been awaiting a very special night at the Waldorf Astoria Panamá. I booked a special event called “The Taste of Waldorf.” Their marketing description was: “The Taste of Waldorf Astoria package invites you to enjoy a three-course gourmet dinner for two in a unique location within the hotel or…
My Favorite Hotel in Panamá, Central America: The Hilton
As a person who travels globally and stays in hotels full-time, I have experienced quite a variety of hotels. In Panamá City, Panamá , I have stayed at 12 different hotels, across 3 major chains: Hilton (see my previous post, Living in Hilton Hotels in Panamá City) , Marriott and Starwood Hotels (who have recently merged), and InterContinental Hotel Group (the…
10 Reasons to Move to Panamá
With the crazy U.S. elections, many Americans are considering options for leaving the country. There have been a number of articles popping up about countries to which you can “easily” immigrate. As a person who has lived abroad in multiple countries, I can tell you… it’s not so easy! Most countries have significant restrictions….
Tips for Visiting Panamá City
Panamá’s Panamá City (Ciudad de Panamá) is a great place to enjoy some relaxing, fun, interesting Latin American culture, and it’s generally safe and inexpensive. Popular excursions include Monkey Island, the Panamá Canal, and several nice beaches. If you plan on visiting some day, following are my top 10 tips: 1. Pack light. The weather is…
Libby’s Travel Credit Card Tips
As a follow-up to my previous post, Libby’s Lifestyle FAQ, following is my response to the question: What are the best credit cards for someone who frequently travels and stays in hotels? I find the following cards to be the most valuable for my lifestyle: American Express BlueSky Preferred – Main benefit: 2x American Express points for $1…
Libby’s Lifestyle FAQ
As someone who travels and lives in hotels full-time, I receive a lot of questions regarding my non-traditional lifestyle. Following are answers to the most common questions: Question 1: What do you do for a living, and how are you able to work remotely from hotels? I am an IT Consultant. Fortunately, there’s been a trend in large IT…
My Bucket List
Life is short! The older I get, the more I realize it. My bucket list contains the things I want to do, see, and experience before my life ends. I had a mental bucket list in my teens and 20’s, but that list changed drastically by the time I hit 30. As my understanding of the world evolved, my…
The Hilton-Like Tropicana Las Vegas
From the outside, you wouldn’t know that the Tropicana Las Vegas is part of the Hilton hotel chain. Its full name is “Tropicana Las Vegas a Doubletree by Hilton,” and you even get a warm cookie when you check-in. On my most recent stay, I pushed the limit to answer the question: How Hilton-y is…
My Holidays at Holiday Inn Club Vacations Desert Inn Resort Las Vegas
I have stayed several weeks in several different units at the Holiday Inn Club Vacations Desert Inn Resort in Las Vegas over the past few years. It is a Las Vegas IHG property (along with Staybridge Suites and The Palazzo). I frequently choose this property when I can get a good price. It’s 2 blocks east of Las…
My “Free” Nights at The Palazzo Las Vegas
The Palazzo is a large, high-end casino on the Las Vegas Strip. It’s between the Venetian (its sister tower) and The Wynn, and across from TI. It’s also across the corner from the Fashion Show Mall. The Palazzo and Venetian are owned by IHG, the same owner as Holiday Inn. Because of previous gambling at the Palazzo,…
Hiltons of London
My favourite hotel chain is Hilton, and I often stay at Hilton and Doubletree by Hilton hotels in central London. I have visited and blogged about 7 Hiltons of London so far (links below). Perhaps this blog series may be useful to others, plus it helps me remember which London Hilton hotels I like and why….
All My Belongings in a Carry-On
I greatly enjoy the freedom and precious time that being a minimalist provides. As I previously blogged in Waking Up from the American Dream, I used to own a house, a car, furniture, appliances, etc. I learned that the more stuff you own, the more your stuff owns you. I used to spend my free…
Why I Don’t Wear Make-up
I don’t wear make-up. I used to wear it now and then, and I respect make-up as an art form. However, it’s not for me, and I have given it up entirely. Here’s why: 1. It feels gross. I don’t like the feel of make-up on my face. When I touch my face, I want to…
Save Money by Living in Hotels?
I enjoy the benefits of living in hotels full-time, while also saving money! I especially love the stress-free lifestyle and the abundance of free time in my life. The hotel lifestyle may not be appropriate for those who have a big family, certain pets, or certain hobbies. It may not make sense for those who already invested in a…
Top 10 Best Things About Living the Hotel Lifestyle
My driver license has a Hilton hotel as my address. That’s about as tied down as I will ever be. Everything I own fits in one suitcase. I don’t run errands, I don’t do chores, I don’t drive, and I don’t pay bills. I never liked those things, so I got rid of them! I am…
Eating Healthy in Las Vegas: Off the Strip
After a week of living on the Las Vegas Strip, I was ready for some nice quiet living OFF the Strip. Even though I was getting complimentary nights at casino properties, I had felt trapped in an area where I couldn’t sleep well and the food was overpriced and unhealthy. Fortunately I was still able to enjoy complimentary…
Eating Healthy on the Las Vegas Strip
After 3 weeks of eating healthy in Denver hotels, I am now hanging out in Las Vegas hotels for a month. My husband and I are platinum-level M Life players, so we thought we’d take advantage of some of the perks. Last year I spent two months living in Las Vegas, but that was before I started…
My Top 10 Healthy Meals to Make
I have been cooking a lot lately given my new whole food, plant-based thoughtful eating lifestyle. I have been experimenting with a number of SIMPLE and HEALTHY vegetarian recipes. The following meals are my favorites so far. Fresh Vegetarian Chili is especially delicious and comforting in the cooler weather. A SparkPeople buddy suggested adding pumpkin and green vegetables…
15 Things I Learned From Living Abroad
I grew up in a small town in Texas. When I looked at a globe, I dreamed of living in my favorite places and visiting everywhere else. I started realizing that dream when I was 29 and moved to Canada. I lived and worked in Calgary, Canada for 6 years, then moved to London, UK…
Visiting The Netherlands as an American
I lived in the Netherlands for 2 years, and my daughter attends the University of Amsterdam. I have recently had some friends ask me for tips for a visit there, so I thought I would share those tips via this blog. First of all, The Netherlands (actually, Nederland) is the name of the country… not…
The Search for My Ideal Diabetic Diet, Part 2
In my last blog post, I shared my journey to find the right diet to manage my type 2 diabetes. I am happy to report continued positive results from my healthy eating. My hotel living lifestyle has not prevented me from eating a balanced, nutritionist-recommended, healthy diet. UPDATE: I had very limited success with this…
The Search for My Ideal Diabetic Diet, Part 1
It’s been 9 weeks since I left the hospital with my type 2 diabetes diagnosis. As I shared in my last post Why Do I Have Diabetes?, last year I made poor food choices, which led me to a Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) attack. Now it is critical that I eat well to get and stay healthy. Whether…
¿Qué es for breakfast?
During my stay at Hampton by Hilton Panamá, I encountered some funny Spanish to English translations at the breakfast buffet. Mmmm…. Bouns. Apparently they were trying to spell “buns.” According to Wikipedia, a “bollo” is a bun made from corn or potatoes. I don’t know what a bun is anymore. “Sauges” is close, but “salchichas”…
Hiltons of London: Doubletree by Hilton Tower Hill
I have stayed at the Doubletree by Hilton Tower Hill twice. Overall, it is my favourite hotel in London! On my first stay, I was given a free upgrade to an Executive room, and the second time I stayed in a standard room (tip: Friday and Saturday check-ins are the worst for getting free upgrades). However, both of…
