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I'm a wife, mother and grandmother. I'm opinionated. I contradict myself frequently. Most of all, I love my kids. I believe in them. I fight for them. They're weird and wonderful. If you want to know more, here's a bunch of other stuff from my old site.

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Archive for the ‘Health’ Category

On The Mend

My mom’s knee surgery seems to have gone well. She’s in the extended care facility, learning to walk on her new joint. She says it’s hard work and painful but it’s getting better every day.

My mother hates to be sick and just wants to be left alone when she is. For three days she kept telling us to just stay home, no visits, because she was so nauseous from the pain medicine she was taking. The doctor switched her meds and she’s doing so much better.

My mother and her roommate have been telling the nurses they’re going to sneak out and head down to the Italian Festival to play bocci ball. Yesterday they joked about having to get out soon for their Alaskan and European cruises. Tomorrow they’ll be teasing about going to Disney!

I’m just happy that my mom is getting back to her old self. I hated seeing her in so much pain and even more, seeing my dad worry about her so much. Honestly, though, I’m going to miss being here once my mom gets home. This has been a really wonderful working vacation.

Work Till It Burns

Yesterday I pulled out my exercise tapes and did a workout. OUCH! The first day is really tough but I also know that the third day is the hardest. At least it is for me. I wonder why that is.

If anyone is interested, the workout I love best is T-Tapp. No, it isn’t based on tap dancing. Or any kind of tapping. It’s a workout devised by Teresa Tapp. And it works!

I’ve tried many exercise programs. I had a trainer once and I did get firm. I’ve done Callinetics and Calisthenics. I’ve walked. I’ve jogged. T-Tapp workouts, though, are the best fat burners I’ve found. So I’m sticking with them.

The only issue I’m having is that Nick took my little VCR for his room so I have to do my workouts in the living room. I’d much rather do them in my bedroom, away from giggling kids.

On my “must buy” list: a cheap VCR. They do still make simple VCR’s, don’t they?

Back Tracking Or Back On Track

I was doing so well on my latest weight loss plan. I’d lost over 40 lbs and was feeling wonderful. And then I decided to try to add some foods that I thought would be safe. At first, they were safe. I didn’t lose but I didn’t gain, either.

The problem was that I stopped thinking about what I was putting in my body. I smelled pizza and ate it. I saw ice cream and ate it. I thought about buttered noodles with garlic and made it. Then I ate it.

Even when I decided to go back to my original plan to drop that last few pounds, I kept putting it off. So I ate and ate and ate. Now, I’ve put 20 pounds on that I’d worked so hard to lose. I feel like such a failure.

Don’t get me wrong. I’ve finally let go of my impossible expectations. I realize that my body is just the form that holds my true self. My body has nothing to do with who I Am.

I care about this weight for a few reasons, though. First, I do want to be healthy. I want to be able to crawl into my grandkid’s playhut tent or climb the sliding board at the playground and slide down. I can still do those things but if I keep eating unhealthy, I won’t be able to do any of that next summer.

Second, I really don’t have the time or money to spend on finding clothes to fit an overweight body. People of normal height and weight have no idea how difficult – or expensive – it is to find clothes that fit a body that isn’t within the “normal” range. I’m already short and dealing with that challenge. I dread having to find clothes that are made for a short fat person!

And so. On Monday I started back on my weight loss program. So far, I’ve done quite well. I made spaghetti for the family last night and didn’t’ touch a bite of it. I made Kendyll buttered noodles for lunch a few minutes ago and didn’t even taste it. We’ve even had pizza in the house and I was strong.

Yes, I’ve recommitted myself to this. The countdown to my 50th birthday in November has begun. I’ll be ready.

ACHOO!

It’s been so long since I’ve had a good ol’ generic cold that I almost forgot what it was like. Usually, I catch whatever “bug” the kids bring home from school. This time, I’m the only one who is sick so I don’t really know how I caught this thing.

Jesse is the only person in the house who agrees with me that it’s just too cold here with A/C running 24/7. I prefer to turn it on for a few hours in the afternoon to counteract the sun shining in my front window. Instead, people keep turning it on all hours of the day and night. I walk around the house in sweater and fuzzy slippers because I’m so cold. Jesse is wearing a sweatshirt. He says I probably got a cold from being in this freezing house. I’m beginning to think he may be right.

I’d hit the Nyquil but I don’t think we have any. So I’m going to sit here and sniffle instead. Or maybe sip a Hot Toddy. Hmmm… Honey? Check. Tea? Got it. Lemon? Yep. Brandy? Brandy? Hey! Who drank my brandy?

ACHOO!

Still Wondering

The last time I mentioned that I’d like to know which OTC diet pill really works, I got some responses that all diet pills are dangerous. Perhaps, but I’d still like to know if any of them are safe and effective.

I’ve tried a handful of these remedies but haven’t been happy enough with any of them to buy a second bottle. So, do any of them work? Has anyone ever had any luck with them? I know plenty of people who didn’t see results with them so I really want to hear from someone who did see results. Anyone?

New And Improved

Have any of you heard about the new diet pills that contain Hoodia? I bought some several months ago but never took them. Now I’m wondering if I ought to try them out.

I’ve heard that Hoodia is not dangerous, doesn’t cause shakiness or headaches. I’ve also heard conflicting reports about whether or not it actually works.

Has anyone here tried it? What were your results? Waste of money, works okay or wonder pill?

Rain Rain Go Away

It looks like the weather is finally going to start drying out. The temperatures are still low for this time of year but at least we’re not supposed to be getting any torrential downpours. Maybe now I can get back to walking!

I’ve decided that every week that I get out and walk at least 4 times, I’ll reward myself with something special. First reward will be an appointment for a facial. I’ve never had one before so that will be a real treat.

After that I’ve started a list with all kinds of things I’d like, some inexpensive and some more costly. I’ve listed books, CDs, my favorite mineral makeup, some cool Dansko shoes, a massage, a new watch, a pedicure and a Coach bag. I don’t know if I’ll actually treat myself with everything on the list but I’ll have fun picking something from it each week. And it sure keeps me motivated to get out and walk.

Let’s just hope the dry weather continues!

The Better To See You

I have strange eyesight. I’m going to be 50 this year and yet I have perfect reading vision. So far. I just can’t see anything more than 3 feet from my face

I’ve worn glasses for nearsightedness since 4th grade. I could never read when wearing my glasses though; I had to remove my glasses to read a book or write on paper but put them on to see the blackboard. My mom was like that for a long time, too. In fact, her eye doctor gave her half-glasses; he cut off the bottom half so that she had to only look down to read or up to see a far distance, rather than having to remove her glasses all day at work.

Anyway, I wear contact lenses when I’m going to be out but at home I use my glasses. That’s because I can’t see the computer screen with my contacts unless I wear those cheap glasses they sell at the drug store for reading.

As much as I want to have lasik surgery on my eyes so I won’t need glasses or contacts for distance vision, I’m afraid that I will need reading glasses for computer work or reading. I’m not sure which is worse. Maybe I’m just destined to have imperfect vision.

Health Insurance

When I was a kid, the labor unions were strong, the coal and steel industries were booming and health insurance was a given. We seldom went to the doctor, though; it was enough to know that we could if necessary.

Everything is different today. More and more people have no health care coverage. I’ve searched for health insurance online and found some good prices. It’s important to research Health Insurance Rates before making a decision. The prices really vary widely.

I know that most people look to the government to “fix” the problem with health care. I don’t believe it’s the government’s place to fix it, though. In fact, I just don’t understand why everyone looks to the government to solve all our problems. Hasn’t it occurred to anyone that the government may be the reason for the problems in the first place? Perhaps the best thing our government can do is nothing.

It’s A Female Thing

Female rant. Beware.

Now that I have no use for anything that would regulate my cycles, I find that the world of medicine is making life so much easier for women. And that kind of frustrates me.

I suffered for a very long time, trying virtually every pill and procedure available at the time. We didn’t have the “mini pill” that was based on a synthetic progesterone; the pills we did have available made me sick. I never made it past the first month with them, choosing instead to suffer.

Now I read that a new pill not only regulates women but also has shown to clear up acne! Are you kidding me? Where was that magic pill when I was 17 and wishing I could put my head inside a brown paper bag?

I was born several decades too early.

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