Health and Fitness September, 2013

[Harriet]

As homemakers, when we take care of ourselves, we increase the strength, stamina, resistance and optimism we have to enjoy life and to be nurturing to others, whether in our homes, extended families or community.

Welcome to our thread about benefiting health and fitness! We are challenging ourselves to greater well-being and encouraging well-being in our family members. Each of us is learning - recognizing needs and finding personal balance.

[Ivy]

I did yoga and stretching this morning, had a morning nap, and then hit my day! I've been on track with my eating and my new size 16-W jeans, which didn't fit about a month ago, fit nicely now. However, my weight's the same or up, so I might be gaining new muscle from the yoga and stretching, walking, and everyday housework, laundry and junk. Regardless, I'm happy my jeans fit better, which are everyday ones, and I'm happy I've been eating healthy today, too.

My physical's later this month, so I'm trying to be good. My weight's up +18 Lbs. from 11/22/2012. Dunno, other than overeating and emotional eating, quite what happened. The thyroid's being re-checked, AC1, etc.., too. I want to be at a healthier weight, although I FEEL healthy. I'm not obsessed over dieting, my body image, or the number on the scales. My head's in the right place, I like me, and don't hate myself just because I've slowly gained 18 Lbs. since last Thanksgiving morning.

Also, this summer, we had teenaged boys eating BOY FOOD and I'd indulged on their foods, too. We don't eat goodies like that all the time, so Gma had fun eating.

[Harriet]

Harmony, I was busy saying "Amen" when I read your last post. You're right I do need to remember to say "thermography" as well - some doctor might be more receptive to that. Yes, I've heard that this 3-D imaging is 3 times the radiation - wow, how can that be considered wise I don't know. This is not the first time it's been discussed here that drs don't know what the printed drug info says. Not that anyone expects doctors to know all things about every medicine, but for your dr to give a knee-jerk response that what you learned is not true.. . wow. She just assumes you read or heard this from a source you won't consider as reliable as she, so she can get you to drop the subject. Too bad she doesn't take the time to learn from you, since you read this from the manufacturer and pharmacy themselves.

Lynlee, thanks for letting us "in" on all the activity you are able to do, and also limitations of course. Your swimming and water exercise sounds great to me, especially if you are able to do a little more each time, extend a little more. Same with driving, although I'm sorry to hear it makes you sore the next day. All best wishes on your tendon appointment.

Ivy, that does sound as if you are slimming down, and that's really the point, not the scale. Clothes are very clear reminders of how they fit before. You have a great attitude about the scale.

I had a good low-calorie day today, with basically two meals of chicken and salad, although they were prepared differently. One salad had fruit, one chicken entree was seasoned. But there was no white flour or sugar in my day, unless there was a little sugar in a salad dressing. Nothing really a "prepared" food. I lay in the sun for just 10 minutes - just enough to feel I was keeping my Vitamin D up while I can.

Oh, Harmony was discussing more meal ideas that are low-carb. I have two that I have plans to try one of these days. Because both use prepared spicy seasonings, I do wonder about the sodium, but I think it would be worth it to enjoy a really tasty meal.
Baked Turkey - Parade magazine is bragging on a baked turkey recipe from Jennifer Hudson. They say it is as good as fried, and I've found Parade to be a good source before.
Blackened Catfish - Also I'm interested in Dr. Mike Moreno's Easy Blackened Catfish recipe: Preheat oven with a rack 4 to 6 inches from the element. Rub four 4-ounce skinless catfish fillets with 2 tablespoons sugar-free Cajun spice blend, grill rub, or seasoning mix. Set on a rimmed baking sheet or broiler pan and broil 8 minutes, turning once, until deep brown and cooked through. Serve with slaw and asparagus, he suggests. I noticed frozen catfish fillets at WMart so I know where I could get them.

[Harmony]

I don't like fish that tastes fishey. It's got to be pretty mild for me to like it. How is catfish along those lines? I did get some frozen tilapia fish and tried it Sunday, broiled with just some lemon. It wasn't bad I guess.

I'm doing low calorie / low cholesterol (which naturally turns out to be low carb with not much meat). I can see the problem I had when I went on that last diet, and I was just counting calories. I was eating more processed stuff. This time it's almost all God-made foods. I'm noticing some surprising things, for one a lack of fluid buildup even though I'm not restricting sodium.

So far my motivation is high (and that's huge for me). I'm down 4 pounds and 2 1/2 inches from the different spots I measured. I'm sure a lot of that is fluid, but I'll take anything at this point! I've not been able to add in exercise yet, hopefully that will help when I am able to do it.

[Nancy]

I did my for my walk today, just me 2 days now,
my friend is busy.
I was busy last night birthday Dinner for me,
and football game watching family play
keeps us both busy & active.

[Harmony]

Having such problems getting to feeling good again that I put my lab numbers into an internet spot I knew would get some informed responses. I got 2 which had me researching things, and though I still don't understand it all completely, I'm now wondering if I need to go to a specialist. I hadn't wanted to because I really like this dr. but even though she was taking all the right tests, I'm not sure she was reading the results correctly and she definitely didn't understand one of the medicines, probably both of them to some degree. So...now I have an important decision to make.

[Harriet]

((Harmony)) You're an intelligent person and you deserve to have confidence in your providers. Whatever you decide, I'm sure you are doing the best for you that you can.

Really the only sensible argument against my hormone dr that my gyn gave me was cost, since she was saying she could prescribe anything he prescribes and save me money by having only one dr. But I couldn't help but think that she wouldn't have reached the conclusions that I needed a prescription in the first place. She was obviously disdainful of the fact that he also tests saliva for adrenal issues. He's never tested my saliva, but gee, adrenal glands exist - they are not like unicorns or something, as if their existence is questioned. Maybe someone should be out there testing.

Today was Basic workout at 9 and then tough housework later. Eating was great for most of the day, especially morning smoothie with fresh strawberries. But I did have bread with spaghetti for supper, rather late, a bad idea on a couple counts. I could taste that the sauce was acid. Hopefully, one indiscretion will be forgiven by my body!!! Could not find more plums at the grocery, but did find scuppernongs (wild-ish grapes)! They are tough to eat because of the big seeds, but it's a wonderful once-a-year treat.

[Harmony]

Harriet, I've read the adrenal test via pee in a jug 24 hours or something like that is more accurate. Hormones sure are hard to balance, aren't they?

[Ivy]

I had to give a urine specimen yesterday on our 43rd wedding anniversary and I accidentally woke up too early to do it and woke DH on our W/A! at 5:50 a.m., so we were UP for the day! Trying to fill a little jar and being built like a woman is the pits!

I got my lab draw done, too. I have a physical in 1.5 weeks. I've not been very good at what I've been eating nor my exercise. I did so well with yoga/stretching each morning, when the grandsons left, I was eating better, too, but something went wrong. I ate good today, got 5 fruits/vegetables, but ate a Skinny Cow AND a drumstick, too! I didn't need them both, I'm lactose intolerant, except for cheddar cheese, it seems, so when I ate the ice cream, I was nauseous. This happened/happens with yogurt, too. Forget milk. It plain makes me sick.

I'm ALSO trying to figure out NEW breakfast ideas! I was using yogurt, but got some bad ones, they tasted terrible, so a mouthful was all I could muster. Today, I ate a protein bar with 10 grams of protein in it with PB on top of it. I want to start using oatmeal with applesauce stirred in with my Optifiber stirred in. I wouldn't mind eggs, any way you fix them. I would love to try out turkey sausage, turkey bacon, with eggs, too, find some whole wheat toaster waffles, so I can have an egg with them. I'm in the "mood" for O. J., too. I used to fix poached eggs on toast and soft-boiled eggs on toast. The most decadent breakfast I'd fix, when I was in my 20's when the kids were at home was a crumpet with cream cheese LOADED with strawberry jam on top and OH YUMMY! The kids and I'd love those. So I need to come up with some different choices for breakfasts, to get my protein, since I'm nixing yogurt due to the lactose intolerance. I know healthier muffins are good with scrambled eggs. Ham is 1 choice, but not my fav. I love cream of wheat, farina, grits, cereals and Carnation Instant Breakfast, too. Now, if I can get my breakfast choices into good choices AND make myself do yoga/stretching in the a.m., I could start my days out better, filled up healthy and moving healthy so my days will go better. Evenings are my "tough" time, when I emotionally eat, but not nightly. It depends on what's going on in my life, if I do it or not. Journal writing helps, writing letters, crochet, and computer things, too. Thanks for "listening" to me. It helps to type and think as I re-read and type, too. Just knowing someone else might be reading this, makes me feel more accountable to someone else and more motivated to doing the right choices for my body, brain, and emotions, too. Everything's connected to everything else. Sorry this is so long! Got long-winded, I guess.

[Ivy]

I walked nearly 20 minutes today, did stretching, stripped the bed, did laundry and had a good healthy-eating day, too.

DH will be buying a variety of breakfast foods this week, too.