Healthy & Fitness - September 2014

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Hush about cane-sugar pepsi!

Thankfully, it isn't obviously on the shelves here. Even the Kosher Coke (which may be back now that Rosh Hashana approaches) is in the "International Foods" section. Sometimes Mexican Coke is there too. I happen to live in an area with a high concentration of Jews and synagogues (all varieties) so finding the Kosher stuff should be easier than when I lived in the country. There are also a number of health-food style shops and many have soft drinks made with cane-sugar.

(Ramblin-Rose, there's confusion on the internet because we call HFCS glucose/fructose and label the ingredients "glucose/fructose and/or sugar" so some people have written that mass-marketed Canadian coke and pepsi are made with sugar. It isn't. It is HFCS under another name.)

Yesterday dd and I left the house at 4:15 and I was 1) exhausted, 2) sore and 3) feeling my blood sugar drop. We were to stop by the general store to pick up the mail but I didn't have the self-control to not buy a Dr. Pepper so we skipped that stop. I had water in the car but it was very warm so I grabbed two bottles from the house before leaving and had those while driving to the grocery store, then had a banana while waiting for dd to finish her shopping. So that's my big accomplishment this week.

I suspect it will be too hot to bike today (it will feel like over 100 with the humidity) so at most I'll pop over to the shopping area of the neighbourhood since I need a winter coat (what better time to shop for one?!!!!) I'm not sure I can get one to go around my hips from the stores I want to buy from. I may have to go to a 'plus size' store which means I'll be likely to not buy anything and then suffer this winter like last.

I'm looking for a 2-part coat so that I have something for extreme cold or can wear fewer layers and have something for regular cold. At this point, not one of my coats goes around my hips, so I need to do something. Last year, I found myself going out less because I didn't have a proper coat. And last year I was gone for January and into February. This year, I don't leave until March.

If I can get the kind of coat I envision, 6 jackets will be leaving my closets. That's my incentive for doing the shopping. I'll hang onto my furs only because I hope to remake one of them (it has value and would make a great vest and the fox sleeves could become a 'puff' for a grandchild or a great liner for a pram), and the other has no value but is frigging warm when it fits (even when I wear it open, as I did last year, it is still pretty warm.)

[Lady Maverick]

(((Norma))) Sounds like you have a plan in place to respond to the diabetic diagnosis. I am looking forward to hearing how it is going.

Hydrogen Breath Test

I've never heard of this. Very interesting!

My weight continues on a v-e-r-y slow downward trend. I was surprised to see the scales continue to drop this morning after what I ate yesterday. Red Lobster cheddar garlic biscuits are very tasty and easy to over indulge!

This morning on the treadmill my top heart rate was right where it needed to be (lower end of zone). I'm starting to feel more confident about taking and tracking HR. My basic heart rate remains in 70-90 range. I am hopefully that will drop after all the baby steps add up to finally reach my goal of time/speed on treadmill

Tracking my sleep hours is revealing things I didn't know. I thought I got plenty of sleep yesterday - I even took an hour nap! However, when I added it all together I was still under 7 hours of sleep (my goal). I found myself starting to argue with the numbers.....I KNEW I had slept enough.....nope, the numbers don't lie. Having that knowledge makes me understand why I over slept this morning. Tracking = Knowledge = Understanding = Solution

[Harriet]

Kathryn, would you consider a seamstress taking your measurements and making a coat for you from fabric you choose? The lovely new warm fabrics are in our local cloth store I noticed. Some were gorgeous. Of course, I didn't check the prices! Hmmm... ...

H Pylori - my gen prac tells me that he tested me for that back when my acid reflux was so bad, and I didn't even know it. He says he just ordered the test with other bloodwork. Does that sound right? Anyway it was negative.

Norma, best wishes on that test - that's a long time to put up with the same dr.'s office, but if it means getting good information it's worth it. No, I hadn't heard of it.

[Ramblinrose]

Kathryn... I hope you can find the coat you want. I have one that I love...I need a heavey coat for times we travel up to the mountains and when I go home. This is the warmest coat I have ever owned and I don't get overheated in it when the temps drop but are only hoovering in the 40s. My concern this year is I will be swimming in it. Don't care, think I'll wear it any way...

LM...I love your equation. BTW those biscuits are dangerous. I can't even nibble on one without causing terrible consequences

Norma... I haven't heard of that test either. You did well the last time you did Atkins, so I'm sure you will get good results as well. Plus it will help Mr. Guy too, especially after his knee replacement. Sweetie and I are rooting for ya'll....

I have won my $100 diet bet. Won't know the amount for several days, but thats ok. Already signed up for one that begins two days BEFORE I get back from vacation. Might just as well...this will keep me on track. And I'm already playing a game that started on Sept. 3. Good grief, I must be really crazy, but ya'll already knew that

Forgot to add...put 5.5 miles on my gazelle last night while watching the US Open and I am down .8 lbs this morning. Adding wasa crackers and coconut oil seems to have helped my "plumbing" issues. Very happy about that...

[Nancy]

My friend t2 daib. Said her doc. Said to get Relion bs strips & monitor only $10 a bottle so I am seriously considering those when I run out of the ones I have on hand here.

I had grated zuchinni w eggs instead of potatoes today for breakfast yummy!

Bs was with in my target range this a.m. what a great feeling that is. I am glad to be over the hump with the worrisome part of insulin transition and is easier than I thought it would be. I do not have to do the middle of the night bs checks now! How awesome to be able to aporeciate sleep it is.

Ex. opportunity moving bed frame and box springs this a.m.

[Lady Maverick]

RR - Congratulations!!!!! I am sooooo very happy for you!!!

Nancy - YGG! Glad you have the BS under control again. Hope the new meds continue to work well

I am inspired by seeing success.
I want to be able to say "I set a weight loss goal and made it". Just writing that kicked off some negative self-talk in my head.
I need to be able to trust myself again. My confidence level is about as low as it has ever been in my life.
Following through with my Dietbet the next 28 days (starting Sunday) is more important than the actual weight loss.
I am looking for the assurance that I can trust myself to do what is necessary and not sabotage myself.

[Ramblinrose]

Yeah for you Nancy. I know it must be some sort of relief. I'm happy for you.

LM...I was feeling just like you are when I started my diet bet. Winning the first one really did help make me believe I could do it. At the beginning of April I was a little over a 150 and now 5 months later I am in my 120's for the first time it I don't know how long, but its been years.

For me, it wasn't the diet/food that was going in my mouth that kept me from losing, it was the "diet" between my ears. I had to stop with all the excuses I gave myself...ya know, I'm over 60, have a slow metabolism, yada, yada, yada.

The truth of the matter is/was I did know what to do, but by my own choice kept coming up with excuses in my head as to why nothing was working. Funny how we try to trick ourselves...I had to get honest with my self and attack...

It became a black or white thing for me and the diet bet held my feet to the fire. The first time I won gave me the confidence that I could do it again, and so I did each month and now I'm where I am.

For me it really boiled down to Cheat or No Cheat...not oh I can have a little of this and it won't matter. Of course it mattered to me cause is I came up with that same little phrase all the time the results would show what I was doing...no hiding it. And then it became being honest to myself, no one else.

Did I slip a few time...certainly in the beginning..but gradually, with stratgies and plans it became easier. Now I don't fear eating out...I take buns off of everything and ask for extra veggies, all the time. No one has ever said no to me. And if I am going to some place new, I look up their menus ahead of time.

We eat out at McDonalds and Burger King all the time...I just get their chicken salad and have learned to carry my own dressing. I take water everywhere I go...sometimes even two bottles. I drink ice tea if its early enough and bring my own sugar. I've learn to adapt but to be strong. Now I love going out to eat knowing I've stayed within my plan.

The other night we ate out with friends at a place the serves peanuts in their shells that you can eat while waiting for your food. I know this cause we eat there all the time...so I brought a stick of sugarless gum. Not really on my plan but it was way better than eating peanuts.

I am just changing me, not the world around me. Last night I watched Rodger Federer play in the US Open. He is considered the best player in the world, but because of his age, which is 34, the world was beginning to doubt his tennis abilities.

Rodger hired a new tennis coach last year. His coach told Federer that to continue to win, Federer needed to completely change his game stratagies. Coach made him start playing up closer to the net....this coach btw was know as the best net player in the world. So that's what Federer did...he learned a new way to play tennis.

Now think about this...Federer had played his old way since he was probably 8. Last night watching Federer as he pounded his opponate with net shots over and over again, one would have thought he had played this way all of his life.

What struck me was how difficult it must have been to make Federer make that life choice, learn how to execute it and then master it. Bet he didn't give himself excuses in the beginning of why he couldn't learn these new skills....and then it dawn on me that I had been doing the same thing.

That's why I changed my signature.... Live boldly, take risks, (want to add) no excuses, no regrets.

[Ramblinrose]

A present to ya'll... Believe and you can do it.

http://soulspottv.com/blog/he-thought-h ... -a-chance/

[Harriet]

Congratulations are due here, for sure!

Nancy, so happy for you accomplishing this change. Good nights of sleep are in your future. Thanks for letting us know friend's type2 strip and monitor recommendations, too. How did you fix the eggs and zucchini?

Ramblin', you surprised me to have finished this one so quickly. Good job. Please tell me you are short (no, no I'm not serious I'm teasing) so that I can wrap my mind around "the 120s". I have heard of them but I thought they were in a mythological world.

Yes, coconut oil is so healthy.

I had gotten into a good rhythm of eating and paying attention to foods, and was feeling well and then some outside influences took my concentration and hung it out to dry. I will be trying to get back into that swing again.

[Harriet]

Cowinkie, that video is one Indiana loved watching. I remember she was so impressed with that determined man, who kept on even when he would just fall over.