Vitamin D, Tea and Me

What with being sick lately, I haven't spent much time outdoors. And most days have been so cold that you only want to dash from car to building. Brrrr! Today is a warmer, calmer day: there isn't actually any snow falling from the sky! But where am I? In the office, of course, looking longingly out the window. 

I've been noticing myself becoming angry easier, grumbling while driving (because everyone else is an idiot!), and feeling a little down. Yes, I've been housebound; and the weather has been terrible. But let's be proactive here! This is MY health .... and I don't like it when I am an ogre. So what's to be done about the lack of Vitamin D?

Well, I turn to good ole Google to refresh my memory of what I should be doing. 

Key food sources of Vitamin D:

• Oily fish; salmon, sardines
• Orange juice
• Breakfast cereals
• Red meats
• Egg yolk
• Cheese 
• Tofu
• Fortified products

I'm good in the egg yolks and cheese department. I eat small portions of red meat; and I enjoy tofu occasionally. I eat fish weekly, but oily fish like salmon are an expensive treat. Orange juice gives me heartburn, but I have been eating at least one orange a day since I've been sick. I don't care for breakfast cereals, and they contain a lot of sugar and/or preservatives as do most fortified products. This site didn't mention Vitamin D drops as did others. 

My best defense is awareness, I suppose; remembering to increase my intake of these items this time of year. And trying to get outside as much as possible. Perhaps I'll pick up some lovely salmon today; I'm worth it!




In the meantime, I know where I'm having my tea break today....... 

Right here in front of the big office window.

Perhaps I'll dream of sunny weekends ...
and Spring.

Empty Pockets / Full Heart? I'm tryin!

I finished my Christmas shopping on Wednesday by purchasing the gift cards for my kids.  It was a big outlay of ready cash, for me; but I felt pretty good that evening about having it done.  (Well, other than the chocky for the socks.)

Now, I don't know if your car is like the cars I've had/have.  But since I became a single parent, every time I spend any large amounts of money (large for me meaning several purchases over $100) ...... my car hears about it!  
Ears like Dumbo, it has!

I don't make a lot of money nor do I have a lot of savings.  But does my car care?  Nooooooo!  All my cars have only ever been concerned that they get their fair share of the money I seem to be throwing around.  (Not unlike my kids when they were younger!)

That simple little trip to the garage to have the snow tires put on turned into a minor panic attack.  "Breathe, Sandy!  Breathe!"  And at those times, any amount of logic -- like "This is the 1st time you've ever had to lay out money for your good ole dependable 10 year old Focus" -- Well, logic doesn't cut it during those times.  At those times, what a body needs is:

• a sugar daddy
• a winning lotto ticket
• a large vat of wine
• someone to hold you and tell you everything will be alright
• a friend who will whine and wine with you
• 10-20 lb of good quality chocolate 

..... ya know what I mean, right.  You want something to make you feel better.

- I tried crying .......... it didn't work.
- I tried screaming at the heavens ........ it didn't work.
- I tried thinking self-pitying "O Woe is Me!" thoughts ........ it definitely didn't work.
- So, I prayed!  (Why wasn't this my 1st counter-action?)       Then I cried some more.

Then I said, "Okay Sandy.  So what if you don't have a lot of money.  You do have enough to pay for this ... almost!  And yoiu have credit for the rest.  You'll be okay.  Just trust!  And breathe!  Have a glass or 5 of wine this weekend and a nice cuppa in the meantime.  And remember to breathe!"
    
 

Did it work?  

Well, not completely.  I still periodically have times when I want to go into my "O Woe is Me" mode.  But overall, I feel calmer about it.  

And I am going through the practice of counting my blessings.   Whenever I think of how financially strapped I am, I remember .......

It could be so much worse.

I think about countries that have experienced devastating calamady in the past few weeks.  I think of those who are really in need.  And then I remember:

I really am a blessed woman!

There.  I'm breathing again.

Kicking the Stuffing out of Diabetes

In my ever aging state and looking at my family history (and my HUGE sweet tooth), diabetes is always a threat for me.  I feel it lurking round every corner, rubbing it's nasty little hands together and smirking malevolently.  

• Did you know that there are over 100 million North Americans affected by diabetes!  Staggering statistics!  
• And did you know that most people can avert or reverse both pre-diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes with dietary changes? (http://www.kraftcanada.com/en/healthy-living-ideas/Diabetes/TheFacts/FastFacts.aspx) 

Well, as my old friend Maimonides said
"No disease that can be treated by diet should be treated with any other means". 

May's Prevention magazine has a wonderful article on this subject.  Key to preventing or beating  diabetes are eating plenty of vegetables, watching your fats, practicing portion control and doing some form of fitness.

They spoke about what's called the "plate method":  your plate should contain one-half nonstarchy vegetables, one-quarter lean protein; and one-quarter slow-digesting carbs.  Vegetables are crucial:  eating just 1.35 servings of leafy greens a day can cut your risk by 14%; eating beans and soy reduces your risk by almost half.


And equally important is what you leave off your plate:  if you're eating a diet rich in trans-fats, saturated fats and simple carbs, you actually increase your odds of diabetes.

Drinking sugar sweetened beverages can actually increase your risk by 26%.


And eating bacon can bring your risk up to 50%.  


Oh, oh, ohoh, oh oh!


But to end on a high note (because I know you're all as upset by the bacon comment as I am!), they're not telling you to live the life of a Franciscan monk.  The experts all say you can occasionally splurge, but they do suggest you be smart and have your "treat" on a day when you know you'll be exercising.


Me?  I continue to enjoy moderate weekly weight losses; and I've been fairly/somewhat/mostly consistent in my healthy eating discipline.  Sadly, however, bacon is off the menu for a couple of months.  And chocolate covered bacon will probably have to wait until my birthday!