Thursday, August 23, 2012

Live Life in Crescendo!

I recently heard this quote, and I am sorry, I do not know who to attribute it to.  It is this....
"Live Life in Crescendo!"
 
What a great thought.  How often have you met a 60 or 70 year old who is trudging through life, bored, waiting to die.  Or a young gen Y who is sliding along, not paying attention to what is important to him or her, rather bored with the whole thing called life.

It gets my dander up, I'll tell you!  Life is for living!  It is about choices!  It is about the present moment!  Why choose boredom?  Why not choose adventure?  Why not take a risk? 

I recently heard a doctor talking about Type 2 Diabetes.  HE said, it is a choice.  Did you know that Type 2 diabetes was called Adult Onset Diabetes not long ago?  Why did they change the name???  Because so many children are now getting diabetes that it was no longer just an adult disease.  And why are more children getting it???  BECAUSE  THEIR PARENTS ARE CHOOSING TO REMAIN IGNORANT ABOUT HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES.  BECAUSE THEIR PARENTS ARE CHOOSING TO GO THE FAST ROUTE FOR FEEDING THEIR CHILDREN AND NOT THE HEALTHY ROUTE!

Every time you choose MacDonalds over a healthy meal, you are choosing Type 2 diabetes.  Every time you choose high carb, high sugar meals, you are choosing type 2 diabetes.  Your choice.

But I am not just talking about health here--although, if you know me, you know it is one of my passions!  I am also talking about your job, your daily activities, where you live... everything!  When I chose to retire from Montessori and move to the NYC area... that was pretty risky!  It has certainly been challenging at times, but I have grown from it.  I have not been bored, I can tell you that!  And, I am different because of it.  Better I hope, but definitely different.

Choosing to be an Entrpeneur--that is challenging--and growth inspiring! Moving from a definite paycheck each week to a residual income that is entirely dependent on my daily actions--well that is anything but boring.  And, coupled with physically moving from rural to Metropolitan, which has been uniquely difficult for me, really mixes things up.  So here I am, a year later, honking horns with the best of them!  Yes, it has forced me to grow and to change.  Yes, it keeps me in the present moment.  Alive.  Aware. Engaged.  

So--my new motto is definitely,

"Live Life in Crescendo!"

 
No boredom allowed around here--there is too much to do! Too much to see.  Too much to experience.  Go ahead, take a chance on something different.  It doesn't have to be huge--it could be a new hobby.  It could be trying out ballroom dancing-- canoeing-- painting.  Just remember--we all have choices in life.  We all can choose to stay engaged in life.

Gotta run--there are things to do and places to go!

 





Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Me? Deny my humble,farm girl upbringing???

Recently I had some house guests. We were getting ready to eat --grilled burgers, salad, etc. When I pulled out the cloth napkins, along with plates, silver wear and glasses to set the table. One of my guests asked me if I didn't have paper plates and napkins.... Actually, I didn't.  I do use them on occasion, when I am not home, but at home, I prefer 'the real deal', so to speak. Am I putting on airs? Am I too good to use paper products? Am I denying my humble, farm girl upbringing?

Not one bit.  But do I like to eat at a well set table?  You bet.  Do I like my home to feel beautiful and well-kept?  Uh-huh.  Why?  And what does this have to do with health anyway?  Well, initially, I was just thinking about why I prefer "real" table settings.  For one thing, ecologically, it is a better choice.  I have to remind myself of that as I wash, dry and fold the 40th napkin of the week... but yes, I believe it is the right choice.  But as I thought about it, I realized there was another reason. 

It feels better.  It feels special.  It feels fancy.  It feels luxurious.  And I deserve to feel all of that.  I deserve to feel good--to feel pampered--even by myself and my choices. 

So what about health again?  This is a health blog after all. OK, here is the connection--the ah-ha moment.  I think when we get to the point of valuing ourselves, of loving ourselves -we take better care of ourselves.  We eat better.  We exercise.  We choose healthy food.  We take vitamins.  We drink water.  We get the right amount of sleep.  Because it feels good.  Because we deserve it.  Because it feels special--fancy--luxurious.  We care about our bodies to the degree that we feel worthy.  Of what?  Of existing.  Of taking up space.  Of being loved. 

In one of my early blogs I wrote about getting naked in front of a mirror and learning to love yourself--every naked pound, saggy butt, and ounce of cellulite.  I think this is connected to that.  I think that we have to accept and love our physical body--and I think we have to emotionally and spiritually accept and love ourselves.  Then we will be motivated to take the first step on the path of health and wellness. 

So stop 'saving' the good china, pull out the cloth napkins and use the family silver!  You deserve it!  Regardless of the lack of love or acceptance growing up... at this very moment you can choose to love and accept your self.  You are worthy of a cloth napkin, the best china and a healthy body!  You are loved.

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Have YOU ever suffered from this???

You have all heard of penis envy... I haven't actually ever met any woman who suffered from this, but there must be someone out there who does, as someone coined the term.  I don't have this, in case you are wondering. BUT... I do have a disorder. It is debilitating. It affects my whole life. I suffer from it in the privacy of my home and in public. I suffer from it when I am with Joe... or family... or strangers. It affects my self image. It impacts my weight. I am ashamed. So ashamed...

I am not sure what to do about my problem. I can't admit it. I can't control myself. I keep thinking I will make a better choice next I time--and then 'next time' comes and goes and I am repeating the same behavior. I need help! I need a twelve step program--except I have never heard of a twelve step program for this. Ok. I have to 'man-up' and start my recovery myself. I guess the first step is to admit my problem. Alright... Here goes...

  I have "FOOD-ENVY!"

Yes. Its true. I cannot help but give Joe and I equal amounts of food. I know I need less than him....but then when I fill our plates..... Ahhhhh! There I go again! Making sure he doesn't have one pea more than I have!!! And family get togethers? Well, let me tell you, none of my siblings are getting that last cookie! Where did this come from? We always had enough food growing up. Of course, there were those four brothers of mine... Maybe that is what did it. They ate a lot and they ate it fast.  I don't really remember worrying about getting my fair share.... But I bet it's their fault! Of course, I realize placing blame will not help me recover. I have to take responsibility for my self and my actions. Ok, I take it back. It is not my brothers fault.... (well, maybe they were a contributing factor...)

Alright, I am making a public statement. I will pile my plate with LESS food than I give Joe tonight. Somehow, I have to keep in mind that I will make more delicious food tomorrow!  There is always more!  Internally, I react as though this is the only time I will ever have the chance to have divine food! Crazy!

Ok, all of you foodies out there, 'fess up!!! Do you suffer from "food-envy" and what are you going to do about it???

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Mirror, Mirror On The Wall...

Recently I did one of my well practiced 'bait and switch' tactics...

Do you know the children's book, "If You Give A Moose A Cookie?"  (If you give a moose a cookie, he is going to want a glass of milk to go with that cookie.  And if you give a moose a glass of milk with his cookie, he is going to want you to read him a story while he eats his cookie and drinks his milk...) Well, when you start a house project it sort of follows that kind of plan.  Here's the story...

Joe and I had bought a new vanity mirror for over the sink before the holidays last year.  I suggested we put it in now as we have had it for quite a few months, but kept putting it off because the holidays got in the way and we just hadn't gotten back to it.  So... Joe pulled the old mirror out and before he had a chance to put the new one back in I said... "It makes sense to repaint while the mirror is out, and it won't take much to take this old wallpaper off."   Then while we were at the store choosing new paint... we looked at lights, because, well... lets face it, the old light was looking pretty ratty now that the mirror was out of the way.  That store didn't have anything we liked so we stopped at a lighting store and found the perfect vanity light--its beautiful!  Ok, now we have a new mirror, new paint, new light... and then I said... "well, you know we really should rewire before we paint and put the new mirror back in because we need another outlet in the bathroom..." and the next thing you know, my brother is helping us to rewire the bathroom!  Ok.... it is sounding pretty good isn't it?   The whole thing is now back together and looking pretty good.  We went to Bed, Bath and Beyond to get a new shower rod because that was now looking old and worn and I suggested we look at makeup mirrors that attach to the wall--to buy later of course, I just wanted to price them.  Well, as I had a coupon for 10% off and a store credit for $8... it was going to be pretty cheap, so we walked out with a new 8x magnifying make-up mirror!  Wow!  I have to tell you my bathroom looks 100% better!  All from a little suggestion that we just shove in the new vanity mirror... (It will only take a few minutes honey!)
(Looking pretty good, don't you think? 
Wish I had a 'before' photo to show you!)

Alright, so what does any of this have to do with health???  I am getting to it!  It was that pesky little last purchase.  That make-up mirror.  The one that magnifies 8x.... You see, I am not getting older, but evidently my eyes are.  And, I do NOT want to be one of those old ladies with lipstick around their mouth totally missing their lips and looking like a clown--hence the need for a magnifying mirror.  Doesn't it make sense?  Except... when I looked into that mirror, with new lights in the bathroom (you can actually SEE in there now!) I was SHOCKED!  Absolutely SHOCKED!!!  I had gotten lines in my face I never knew I had!  I LOOKED LIKE MY MOTHER!!! AHHHHH....
(Me and my mom--1973, and yes,
that is my Senior Prom night! 
--Mom must have been about 50 in this photo.)


After a few days I recovered from the shock of what a 56 year old face really looked like.  I had been seeing a 30 year old face for the past 26 years!  And then I realized that the reality is I AM 56... closer to 60 than I like to think about and of course my face has been changing.  It reminded me of the importance of skin care--an easy thing to put off... to think that it doesn't matter now, I'll take care of it later.  And of course my nutritional health as well, because we all know skin care is impacted by what we put into our bodies as well. 

So... my next purchase???  A full length floor mirror!  I might as well get over the shock of what the rest of my body looks like now before it gets any older!

Monday, March 5, 2012

Wow!  The February 25th, Health and Happiness Summit hosted by Dr. Oz and Usana Health Sciences was incredible!  They pulled together myriad people with varying expertise and there was so much information it was staggering!  My pen couldn't keep up with it all.  But, I have compiled the highlights I was able to take down and catagorized them by speaker.  the real point every speaker made was that we are responsible for our health and that we all can choose to make simple changes that will have a big impact!  For instance... don't reheat in plastic, use all natural, non-fluoridated toothpaste, increase your fiber intake, get 8 hours of sleep a night, fill half of your dinner plate with veggies.... and so much more!  I have highlighted a few things each speaker talked about below--and tried to give you websites or books so you can delve deeper if you are interested in learning more.

Read on!

Lisa Oz
www.healthcorps.net
www.lisaoz.com
Lisa gave us information about HealthCorps, a proactive health movement co-founded by Dr.  Oz and  Lisa, to fight obesity and the mental resilience crisis by getting American students and communities across the country to take charge of their health. 

Dr. Oz
www.doctoroz.com
Dr. Oz outlined right away what we need to do to get on a healthy course!  He said, first of all, we need awareness.  We need to be aware of where we are at--and then take action!  It isn't just knowing--it is taking action.  We have to acknowledge where we are and understand our limiting beliefs--the ones that sabotage our efforts to get healthy.  Just knowing where we are at isn't enough--we have to actually change!!!  Duh!  Though of course, we all tend to get stuck and give lip service to our unhealthy habits.  He  also made the point that if we decide to lose 100 pounds, run a marathon and only eat raw veggies--we are more likely to fail.  He is a proponent of small  (do-able) steps.  Choose something you CAN DEFINITELY do today, and build on it once it is firmly established!  He also made the point that we need a purpose--something or someone that motivates us.  Do you want to get healthy so you will be here to walk your daughter down the aisle?  Do you want to get healthy so you can play with your grandchildren?  Connect with a bigger purpose!

"We can't change everything, but we can change something!"
       
Dr. Michael Breus (the Sleep Doctor)
Dr. Breus gave a lot more detail than I was able to write down about the 5 sleep cycles of 90 minutes each we go through during the night.  During last third of night we enter REM sleep which is the mentally restorative sleep.  During REM sleep, we move information from short term to long term memory.  So--can't remember why you walked into a room?  Can't find your keys?  Get more sleep!

He also pointed out--more calories are burned during REM sleep!   That will motivate me to get to bed!!!

Basically--Bad sleep leads to Bad health.

o   Weight gain

o   Increase pain

o   High blood pressure

o   Decreased immune function

o   Don’t problem solve as well


Getting a consistent 8 hours of sleep = looking 3 years younger, and who among us doesn't want to look 3 years younger???

5 things that help you achieve good sleep:

1.      Select one bedtime and stick with it

2.      Stop caffeine by 2pm

3.      Limit alcohol 3 hours before bed

4.      Limit exercise 4 hours before bed

5.      Get 15 minutes of sunshine every day

Who knew sleep was SO important!  You can google Dr. Breus and see that he has several books out that will give you even more information.

Dr. Rovenia Block, nutritionist & weight lost guru
www.everythingro.com
Did you know that 72% of Americans are obese and 1 in 3 kids are obese???  Whew... we, as a nation, had better get on a better diet!

Dr. Ro suggested to change our health we have to change our mind about food and how we eat.  And I want to point out, that I have been telling people for years that 50% of your dinner plate should be veggies, 25% of your plate should be lean protein and 25% of your plate should be whole grains---which is what Dr. Ro told us!  (I got that right!)

She gave us a few ideas for weight loss, including:
  • Increase your fiber intake
  • Increase water
  • 2-3 cups of roasted dandelion tea helps you burn fat 25% faster.
  • Eat 3-4 pineapple spears a day to improve liver function and help burn fat faster.
Ok, Dr. Ro--I am hot on your tips!

Dr. Nicholas Perricone
www.perriconemd.com
Dr. Perricone talked about the effects of what we choose to eat. We all want to look our best--actually we all want to look better than our best!  We want to look younger, slimmer and sexier all the way around.   The food we eat and the lifestyle we have effect our skin and our energy and our general health! 
Can't afford a face lift?  No problem!  Find your “facelift” in the refrigerator—it's all about what you eat.  Here is his prescription:
For 3 days:
·        No sugar or starches

·        Lots of water

·        Eat salmon for protein

·        Eat watercress salad—detoxes the liver, use olive oil and lemon juice for dressing

·        Eat blueberries-antioxidents

OK--I am hot on this diet this week!  I'll let you know how much younger I look next week!

Back to Dr. OZ

For Ideal health:

·        Your blood pressure should be 115/75

·        Exercise 30 minutes a day

·        Eat a healthy diet that you love

·        Have stress control

·        No smoking


  •   Get 25g of fiber every day.
  •   To help control eating, have a handful of nuts ½ hour before a meal.

“Prevention is making it easy to do the right thing!”

1 in 3 Americans have prediabetes or diabetes.

High fiber slows the transit of food, which increases satiety.

Success is forgetting you are on a program!


Dr. Myron Wentz and Dave Wentz:
www.healthilee.usana.com for supplement, weight-loss, skin care, business
www.myhealthyhome.com for environmental health info

Dr. Wentz and Dave talked about environmental health.  It is amazing to me the things I don't know!    Actually they covered so much information--I am sure I only caught a percentage of it in my notes.  I will have to finish reading their book, The Healthy Home--which I recommend to all of you.
One thing they talked about is EMF's or electromagnetic fields.  We can't see, taste or feel it, but we are barraged with electromagnetic radiation every night when we go to bed!  From the alarm clock to the Wi-Fi- router to the cell phone on our night stand and even our lamps are giving off EMF's.  Several studies support the existence of adverse non-thermal effects from ELF fields and others have revealed an assoication with childhood cancer.   Remember when there was so much news about the effects of living near an electric power plant?  This is the kind of thing that is easy to ignore... the effects are so subtle and slow... until you actually have  a diagnosed disease that is.... Why take the risk?  What do you do about it?  Move things further from your bed.  Clear your nightstand of any gadgets that you don't NEED there.  Get a down comforter instead of an electric blanket!

Another place they looked at was the bathroom--and Fluoride.  Did you know that the FDA began requiring a warning on toothpaste back in the 90's for fluoride?  That swallowing it can be fatal?  Read the label on your tube--you might be surprised!  Dr. Wentz recommends brushing with a nonfluoride toothpaste, flossing and scraping your tongue instead of using fluoride!  And while we are on the subject of teeth...
All of those silver fillings in your mouth are actually made of mercury.  Everytime you chew or drink hot liquids you release vapors of mercury--the most toxic radioactive metal on planet earth--into your mouth!!!  Help!  The tiniest amount of mercury absorbed by the body-can damage cells, tissues, and organs.   And, mercury has a high affinity for nerve cells and readily enters the brain.  Now personally, once you tell me those silver fillings are not silver, but mercury,  even I can figure out that a toxic heavy metal does NOT belong in my mouth.  You can have them removed by a biological dentist trained to deal with this poison and replaced with biocompatible fillings.
In the kitchen Dave reminds us to get rid of plastic containers, in favor of glass storage containers.  And, NEVER microwave in plastic or foam containers!  Heating, microwaving, washing in the dishwasher, and prolonged contact with fatty foods will damage plastic enough to allow dangerous chemicals to leach out! Oh, and speaking of styrofoam containers, a study by Louisianna State University showed that eggs, still in the shells, stored in styrofoam containers for two weeks exhibited up to SEVEN times more ethylbenzene and styrene than eggs fresh from the farm.  Well, I have had enough chemistry (and I even remember some of it!) to know that they are both suspected carcinogins!  So... move the leftovers you bring home in a foam or plastic container from the restaurant, immeadiately to a glass container when you get home from eating out, and only buy your eggs in cardboard containers.  An easy way to make a small change.

Ok, that was a ton in information ...but truly, there was even more!  You now have many websites and books you can go to for more information.  Happy reading!



Thursday, February 16, 2012

A Scientific Thought for the Month of Hearts, Flowers, Chocolate and Love...

This article appeared in my inbox from Usana Health Sciences... now you all know I sell their products.  You all know I am a true believer!  Amen!

  But... I am not just a "believer," I like to have some data to back up the healthy lifestyle I choose!  Read on... and if you want supplements that make a difference, click on "shop online" to the right.  For the best grape seed/vitamin c supplement, you can order "Proflavanol" right from here!

I want to add--and this is not particularly scientific, but definitely my experience--as I have seen people dropping like flies from colds and the flu over the winter season, I have increased my grape seed/ vitamin C intake and stayed healthy... I'm just sayin'...

A Scientific Approach to Heart Health

USANA scientists recently conducted a study in conjunction with a research team at the Boston University School of Medicine. The study showed that grape-seed extract and vitamin C may be beneficial for people who already have a form of cardiovascular disease called coronary artery disease (CAD).

Here’s a little bit of background: Oxidative stress may impact the heart’s ability to effectively pump blood. Over time, this impaired function has been shown to be an important factor in the progression of CAD.

Grape-seed extract and vitamin C have been shown to significantly protect against oxidative stress, as well as to have positive effects on blood flow. The USANA/BU team suspected that the powerful antioxidants could support healthy blood flow through supplementation of these two key nutrients together.

Researchers gave study participants, who were already diagnosed with CAD, either a placebo or 450 mg of grape-seed extract and 1500 mg of vitamin C. Blood samples were taken four hours after receiving the first dose, then again four weeks after taking the same dosage every day.

Those in the treatment group showed improved antioxidant levels. Blood flow response also showed significant improvement following the 28-day treatment relative to the placebo group.

These results suggest that grape-seed extract and vitamin C, working together, may help improve vascular function in people with CAD, even in tiny peripheral blood vessels.
The results of this study were so impressive they were shared at an event sponsored by the American Heart Association.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

OMG! It's a Catch 22...

Did you know... as we age... we women that is... I mean we older women... alright... menopausal women, ok!?!  Anyway, as we women age, estrogen and progesterone decrease and as these hormones decrease, cortisol rises.  When cortisol rises, insulin rises and insulin is a fat storing hormone. 

That is first.   Then you need to know that when your cortisol is high, you have major sleep distrubances.  Cortisol is your stress hormone.  It gives you an overactive brain and you feel pumped up--as in fight or flight!

Ok, NOW you need this information... The inability to sleep.... RAISES CORTISOL!!!!  Which, by the way, (the inability to sleep) diminishes your thyroid, which is a fat burning hormone.

To summarize:
  1. Estrogen and progesterone decrease 
  2. Cortisol rises
  3. Insulin rises
  4. Have sleep disturbances
  5. Thyroid diminishes
  6. Cotisol levels rise
Whose bright idea was this????  Hmmmmm?

How can anyone lose weight and be in menopause at the same time????

A year ago I started blogging about what I was learning and going through as I worked at being healthier.  Since then, I have had foot surgery, a dislocated knee, an out of whack sacroiliac joint, retired from my job, moved 4 1/2 hours away, and moved in with Joe.  Oh, and did I forget to tell you about gaining 15 pounds???  This is not healthier!  I am definitely cooking healthier.  Just recently I am back to exercising more regularly, though I cannot yet go running or even much power walking.  So I am on another quest... to lose the fifteen I gained when I was on my 2011 health quest!!!

What's a woman to do???