May 29 2010
Each time we check into a hotel while on our mini vacation, mom, my sister and I walk by the exercise room. We decided, in order to avoid the side effects of lipovox, we needed to actually visit the room and use the equipment. 
I thought we were going to get hurt on the equipment because we were laughing so hard. I think we may have worked off an eighth of a pound while laughing on the exercise equipment. I highly recommend exercising.
May 25 2010
Before I even turned fifty year old, the AARP people were welcoming me into their club. I do not want to join AARP. I see no advantage in joining a club that celebrates my getting older. All the discounts they offer, I have been able to get through my insurance carrier of other affiliation. I just wish they would stop wasting their money by sending me mailing after mailing. Although I am not interested in AARP, there are some perks to getting older:
1. Kidnappers are not very interested in you.
2. In a hostage situation you are likely to be released first.
3. No one expects you to run — anywhere.
4. People call at 9 pm and ask, “did I wake you?”
5. People no longer view you as a hypochondriac in fact, they ask
you for your lipozene reviews.
6. There is nothing left to learn the hard way.
7. Things you buy now won’t wear out.
8. You can eat dinner at 4 pm.
9. You can live without sex but not without your glasses.
10. You get into heated arguments about pension plans.
11. You no longer think of speed limits as a challenge.
12. You quit trying to hold your stomach in no matter who walks into the room.
13. You sing along with elevator music.
14. Your eyes won’t get much worse.
15. Your investment in health insurance is finally beginning to pay off.
16. Your joints are more accurate meteorologists than the national weather service.
17. Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can’t remember them either.
18. Your supply of brain cells is finally down to manageable size.
19. You can’t remember who sent you this list.
Apr 22 2010
I had to get up early this morning for a doctor appointment. I guess I have high cholesterol so I need to take medicine to lower it. Waiting for my appointment left me reading everything I could find in the little, cold, room. I read what to do if you get H1N1, pronexin reviews and how to contact my doctor online. I should have brought my own book. Why don’t they let me sit in the main waiting room if the doctor is going to take a half hour to get to me. I would rather watch people than look at four walls and read boring stuff.
I sound grouchy and I really am not! I am excited to get to work with some new fabric I bought this past weekend. I cleaned out my sewing room yesterday and feel as if I can really think now. Why is it when my room is chaos I cannot function? I found a few projects I had started but never completed. I made a space on a shelf for those projects so I can get to them without having to dig for them. Organization was my goal yesterday! Sewing is my goal for today.
Apr 21 2010
You know what? We can think for ourselves. The government does not have to require food manufacturers to reduce sodium in the food we buy. We can actually “not shake the salt shaker”. When are they going to put labels on gold coins telling us not to swallow them? The government already requires ladder manufacturers to put labels on ladders that tell us not to climb on the top step. When I get that shaky feeling upon arriving higher than I feel comfortable, I stop climbing. I don’t stop because of a label. Does the government think we are stupid? Apparently so.
Here are a few more dumb warning labels that either our government or a foreign government decided we needed to see on items.
Do not use while sleeping.
Sears hair dryer
You could be a winner! No purchase necessary. Details inside.
Bag of Fritos
Use like regular soap.
Dial soap
Serving suggestion: Defrost.
Swann frozen dinner
Fits one head.
Shower cap box
Do not turn upside down.
Bottom of Tesco’s Tiramisu dessert box
Product will be hot after heating.
Marks & Spencer bread pudding
Do not iron clothes on body.
Rowenta iron
Do not drive car or operate machinery.
Boot’s children’s cough medicine
Warning: May cause drowsiness.
Nytol
Warning: Keep out of children.
Korean kitchen knife
For indoor or outdoor use only.
Chinese Christmas lights
Not to be used for the other use.
Japanese food processor
Warning: Contains nuts.
Sainsbury’s peanuts
Instructions: Open packet, eat nuts.
American Airlines peanut packet
Found at the Innocent English website
Feb 12 2010
I am so thankful for sporting events that have kept me going this winter. Each weekend I have had something to look forward to and that keeps my mind off of my inability to get in the car and do what I want. What I want to do is visit some fabric stores and replenish my stash!
I have been so sick ever since Tuesday. It isn’t as if I am having diet pill side effects. No need to even diet when I am so dizzy. I give up on taking anything to alleviate the pain from neuralgia in my jaw. I think I’ll put up with the pain rather than feel dizzy and unable to function.
Nov 01 2009
I was surprised, while watching Dr. Oz’s new television program, to hear him recommend organic milk. I agreed with his thoughts on the benefits of using organic leafy, hard to wash items, such as Romain lettuce and other items but have to disagree with his thoughts on buying organic milk.
The following article written by By Karen Collins, R.D. for MSNBC explains what I have always held to be true about milk.
Demand for organic milk, which can sell for up to double the cost of other milk, is booming. Deciding whether to spend the extra money is not as clear-cut a decision as some suggest.
People may turn to organic milk for health benefits, or environmental and animal rights’ issues. But when evaluating the health claims, so far, research does not support a health advantage of organic over conventional milk for any segment of the population.
That’s because the U.S. Department of Agriculture has four requirements to define milk as organic, and confusion abounds about each.
Milk that is labeled “USDA Organic” must come from cows that have not been treated with bovine growth hormone (BGH) to increase milk production. People who focus on this goal express concern that hormones in milk could raise the risk of hormone-related cancers, or lead to higher levels of an insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) linked with cancer.
But BGH is a protein hormone, which means that if any does appear in milk, enzymes and acid in our digestive tract destroy it. Dale Bauman, a professor of animal science at Cornell University, emphasizes that if IGF-1 is slightly higher in milk from BGH-treated cows, it represents a tiny fraction of the IGF we all produce each day. Bauman reports that we would have to drink 95 quarts of milk to equal the IGF-1 we make daily in our saliva and other digestive tract secretions.
We need to differentiate between levels of IGF in our blood, which some studies link to a possible increase in cancer risk, and levels of IGF in our food. Several organic-related Web sites refer to a study in which vegans (who eat no animal products) showed 13 percent lower IGF than non-vegans. But, a closer look at that study shows that milk consumption was not related to blood levels of IGF. Research shows high blood levels of IGF are linked with overweight, lack of exercise, and diets too high in saturated fat, refined carbohydrates or total calories.
No antibiotics
A second characteristic of organic milk is that these cows are not treated with antibiotics. If a cow in an organic herd does need to be treated with antibiotics, she is not returned to the herd for a period of 12 months. Yet in conventional herds, milk from cows that receive antibiotics is not used until tests show it is antibiotic-free. Tanks of milk are routinely tested to ensure no antibiotic content.
A third requirement of organic milk is that cows’ feed is grown without pesticides, whether the feed is grass or grain. Recent USDA reports show that nonorganic milk may contain low levels of certain pesticides, but these are far below established tolerance levels. Using organic feed may support sustainable farming practices, yet research has not found it affects the nutritional value of the cows’ milk.
Grazing time?
The final requirement for organic milk is that cows must have “access to pasture.” Many consumers assume this means cows graze in fields most of the year. But, the current standard does not require a specific length of time in pasture. A cow can graze in pasture only a limited time and still produce milk that is certified organic.
On the question of grain- versus grass-fed cows, some suggest that pasture-fed cows may produce milk that contains more conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a special type of fat that may protect against cancer and other health problems. But Michael Pariza, professor of food microbiology and toxicology at the University of Wisconsin, and a leading expert on CLA in dairy products, says grass feeding by itself does not assure increased CLA. He and Bauman both note that cows fed mixed grains with soybeans or other additions can produce milk that has higher CLA levels than milk from grass-fed cows. This may lead you to spend less on milk and more on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish and other healthful foods.
Nutrition Notes is provided by the American Institute for Cancer Research in Washington, D.C.
Sorry, Dr. Oz. I have to disagree with you on this one.
Oct 13 2009
This morning, I read an article that shows how some push themselves to beat the odds. A couple in Falls Church, VA always knew that something was not right with their daughter. She didn’t have cerebral palsy nor did she have downs syndrome. They could not figure out why their daughter, Mack, fell behind when doing things their other children did at certain mile stones. No amount of probing, or DNA testing was able to give them answers.
Nearly ten years ago, Dr. Jordan Grafman, chief of the Cognitive Neuroscience Section at the National Institutes of Health, finally diagnosed the problem.
An MRI scan revealed she was missing nearly half of the left side of her brain. While it was clear Mack has some problems, Grafman said he and the family were shocked by the extent of the damage.
How did Mack cope? It seems, her brain rewired itself.
Mack has fairly normal language abilities, certainly basic language abilities, she can construct a sentence, she can understand instructions, she can find words when she’s talking, but actually she has some trouble in some aspects of visual-spatial processing,” said Grafman. The human brain is the center of the human nervous system and is a highly complex organ.
Aug 26 2009
Have you heard the news that Dr. Oz will soon have his own television show? I am excited. I have seen him on Oprah a few times. Whether he discusses the shape of your poop or weight loss supplements, he is interesting. He is truly interested in helping people with their health issues. He also cares about where our young people are headed. Oz is the founder and chairman of HealthCorps, a non-profit organization that pays a small stipend to recent college graduates to spend two years in high schools mentoring students about health, nutrition, and fitness.
Dr. Mehmet Oz is married to author and Reiki master Lisa Oz and they have four children, Daphne, Arabella, Zoe, and Oliver.
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Aug 24 2009
What is the secret to a long and healthy life? It is in the food that we eat. As you well know, all foods are not created equal. Choosing and eating the right foods may help increase your life expectancy as well as the quality of your life. I am trying to pay more attention to these things!
Here are ten of the top power packed foods designed to give you energy, vitality and all around good health!
1. Beans – If they give you gas, take precautions before you eat them. (Wish I had stock in Beano). Soaking them first can help. Beans of all kinds (kidney, navy, lentils, chickpeas, Northern) are high in protein. This is plant protein so it contains very little fat, carbs and calories. If fiber is a problem in your diet, eating a healthy portion of beans each day can keep your digestive system healthy.
2. Oatmeal – Oatmeal is coming into popularity as a food that lowers blood cholesterol. You can make it yourself with rolled oats or eat the instant kind if you are in a hurry. Oatmeal is a filling grain that also provides much needed fiber to keep hunger at bay and your blood sugar constant.
3. Fruits – Fruits are filled with antioxidants such as Vitamin C and A. Antioxidants fight free radical damage in the body and reduce the risk of cancer. Berries such as blueberries and grapes have the highest amount of antioxidants. But choose an array of fruits in a wide variety of colors for maximum health. The antioxidants in fruit boost the immune system to fight the effects of aging in the body.
4. Allium foods – This class of foods includes garlic, onions, leeks and shallots. Garlic is known for lowering cholesterol. Allium vegetables help guard the body against the risk of cancer and many other ailments. They also help lower blood pressure and prevent blood clots. Eating these power packed vegetables in their natural state especially garlic increases their health benefits.
5. Salmon – Eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids reduces the risk of heart disease and other conditions like atherosclerosis. Wild salmon is a fatty fish but it contains good fats that has been proven to improve health in children and adults. Salmon is rich in protein which is of great use after an exercise session to build muscle tissue.
6. Flax seed – Like salmon it contains omega-3 fatty acids. These seeds also contain omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids. You get a lot of power to fight high cholesterol, heart disease and diabetes with this seed. Ground flax seed can be added to fruit smoothies, sprinkled in yogurt, eaten with cereal or added to pancake mix to name a few.
7. Peppers – Peppers are colorful. They contain antioxidants like beta-carotene and Vitamin C. Peppers range from mild and sweet to so hot you’ll be calling the fire department. All peppers contain a substance called capsaicin. Capsaicin has the properties of an anti-inflammatory, a pain reliever, lowers cancer risk and heart disease. They are good in salads, salsa and all sorts of dishes. I love all the colors and when they are on sale, I stock up and freeze them.
8. Nuts and seeds – Nuts are high in fat but those fats are the good kind. Peanuts, almonds, Brazil nuts, walnuts and pistachios are all providers of good fats and protein. Crush them into a fine powder and use as a coating instead of higher carb bread crumbs. Nuts help to lower cholesterol. Eat them right out of the shell with no additives. Almonds are great to fight headaches.
9. Açai – This berry has been in the news lately. It is rich in antioxidants and increases energy. You can get more done and look better while doing it. You can get Acai juice and supplements in your health food store.
10. Yogurt – The fat free variety is good for you. Yogurt contains calcium, Vitamin B, and protein. If you don’t drink milk, yogurt is an alternative to get your calcium in to build strong bones and teeth. Live yogurt also contains friendly bacteria to help promote a healthy digestive system.
Building a better healthier body begins with what you eat. Try these super foods to get started on the right foot and stop feeling like a slug.
Aug 14 2009
My friend Val over at Mom Knows It All (You can ask her husband if this is true) is spotlighting Shoprite and their efforts to fight hunger. General Mills and ShopRite will donate one box of cereal to a food bank in ShopRite’s trading area for the first 30 comments she receives on her post.
ShopRite has been trying to fight hunger for more than twenty years, first as part of the Feeding America network (formerly America’s Second Harvest) and the Checkout Hunger program. In 1999 ShopRite took their desire to fight hunger in the areas they serve to another level by creating ShopRite Partners In Caring (SRPIC). General Mills has been one of the program’s most supportive vendors. The ShopRite Partners In Caring program has donated more than $20 million to the 23 regional food banks and more than 1,400 charitable agencies it. The donations go to emergency food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, child care centers, battered women’s shelters, senior programs, programs for the mentally and physically disabled, drug rehab centers and after school programs.
Please read Val’s post to see other ways you can help fight hunger. Do you realize how much even one dollar helps fight this widespread tragedy? A $1 donation can purchase 10 pounds of food from a food bank. a little bit truly can go a long way.
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