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‘health’ Category

  1. you are what you eat

    November 10, 2008 by shishnit

    Because I work such a crazy schedule my eating habits have changed drastically.  I should preclude this entry by saying that I took two health courses in the last few months and they forced me to think about what I put into my mouth every day. 

    I am not a person that was raised on fast food or hamburger helper.  My mother cooked a dinner every single day.  These dinners always included a meat, potato, and a veggie.  While I’m sure they were not the healthiest, I know they weren’t fast food or junk.  I do recall a large amount of Kraft mac and cheese and hotdogs and lots of ramen noodles.  These things were always on hand.  When I think back to my son and how I chose to feed him, it was probably somewhat the same.  However, he’s rather healthy for a child and is almost extremely thin so he’s not overweight whatsoever.  I always gave him pretty much what we were eating and I tended to put more effort into cooking when he was a child.

    Fast forward ten years and all you hear about is organic, free-range, low fat, no fat, Atkins, etc. etc.  I read the Southbeach diet and gained a ton of useful information.  However, I decided not to go on a diet.  I decided to “take an interest in healthy eating” instead.  I did not ban anything but I do try very very hard to never go to a fast food restaurant and if I do, my choice is for Subway.  I also decided to keep an eye on portion control as well.  I try daily to get veggies and fruits and grains and make those portions the greatest portions that I eat.  BUT, let me repeat. I am not on a diet.  A diet alludes to a short term temporary method of eating.  I don’t drink soda anymore, and if I want soda I drink some, but not an entire can.  I’m also watching my sodium intake and my sugar intake. 

    I’m not insane about any of this.  I am just more aware and trying to make better choices.  Soup or salad, I’ll choose the soup provided it’s loaded with veggies and not cream based, etc.  The salad if it has more than water logged lettuce and no other veggies.  I weigh my choices and make the better one.  I now realize that fast food places are the durge of society and I think people that feed their families organic food only and then go to Mcdonalds on a semi regular basis are lying to themselves.

    Most days I drink a cup of coffee and have a slice of toast for breakfast.  Or, I eat a bowl of oatmeal or a bowl of grain cheerios.  I then eat a snack and then around 5 I eat a full dinner.  I work until 10 every night and it’s hard not to go home and eat everything in sight, but I would say 3 nights out of 4 I manage to succeed at not doing so.  Most nights I drink a glass of milk and or a cup of hot tea and that’s it. 

    Ok having said this, I have lost ten lbs.  I have not “tried” to lose ten lbs.  I have merely tried to take better care of myself by eating healthier.  It’s a nice aside that I’ve lost ten lbs.  Especially since I love myself either way…with or without that ten lbs.  it’s just a healthy side affect of eating healthier every single day.  I feel great and I no longer binge eat because I allow myself to eat more food than I was before because if you don’t eat candy and junk you can certainly eat a lot more healthy food.

    I’m really ok with who and what I am these days, in fact I love myself more and more every single day because I am doing the things that I have always wanted to do.  It’s not about that, it’s about realizing that eating more is much better than starving myself and eating the wrong things when I did eat in the past.

    This would never work for Rick because he would prefer to live on hamburgers and peanut butter sandwiches and cheese and bologna.  Most people would say he is thin, however I imagine if they sliced him open and sliced me open and compared, I’d be far more healthy.  I might even bleed low sodium V-8 juice!


  2. are you drinking out of a salt shaker?

    September 17, 2008 by shishnit

    I recently tooka  Paradigms in Health course and got a perfect score in it, an A 100%. I’m currently taking a Human Nutrition course and we are again talking about daily nutritional intake/values. 

    A fellow student in my current health class had this to say

    “Up until last year, I was a MT Dew lover.  I would drink 3-4 20oz bottles a day.  When I would stop drinking for at least 1 full day, it actually tasted like its color, pond water.  I have been away from it since December now, I don’t even like the sight anymore.  Pepsi was my alternate, that stuff tastes nasty.  I wonder how I even began to like this stuff.  Now I stick to water and Xenergy to drink through out the day, and at meals I drink milk or water.”

    I had this to say in response: I got curious and did some research. 

    Xenergy drink

    Nutrition Facts:


    Serving Size: 16 fl. oz.
    Servings per case: 12 cans Calories: 0

    Niacin 40 mg (as Niacinamide)

    Vitamin B6: 10 mg

    Vitamin B12 10 mcg

    Sodium 400 mg

    Proprietary Blend 2.7 g: Taurine, glucoronolactone, caffeine, guarana extract, panax
    ginseng extract, inositol, l-canitine.

    from http://musclesurf.com/xenergy.html

    And here’s for a Mountain Dew

    http://www.thedailyplate.com/nutrition-calories/food/mountain-dew/soda

    There are the nutrional value for the Xenergy drinks you are having.  Looks to me like all you did was trade sugar for salt. 

    “Since the minimum physiological requirement for sodium is only 500 mg daily, Americans well exceed their sodium intake. However, athletes who eat mostly fresh foods and consume water (versus sports drink) during exercise maybe at risk for hypoatremia characterized by lethargy, confusion, muscle twitching, seizures and coma. Hypoatremia may also be due to excessive intake of fluid especially those experiencing renal insufficiency.”
    http://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/nutrition/factsheets/sodium.html  

    Only 500 mg of sodium is needed for an average adult.  One energy drink has 400.  If you drink that you can only allow another 100 mg of sodium.  Trust me that would be nearly impossible.  I hope you’re not drinking 2 or more of these a day.

    In other words unless you are out sweating away those energy drinks like an athlete would…you are consuming a heck of a lot of sodium that your body cannot use.  Try water with lemon/lime squeezed in.  No sodium and free!!!!  Your energy drink might bring on hypertension.

    That energy drink has caffeine in it too. 

    Oh and again because I myself was curious I looked at the sodium content of milk.  Ut oh…one glass of milk added to 2 Xenergy drinks and one would be consuming a lot of sodium just via drinks..(400 mg in one energy drink, 127 more mg’s of sodium in one glass of milk……you’re over the daily recommended amount…AND that’s not even considering what you eat.  You didn’t say how many energy drinks you drink….but you can see how this is a slippery slope. Sodium Content of Milk (all varieties) can be found here http://www.annecollins.com/sodium_diet/sodium-milk.htmI’m currently drinking a FUZE refresh Bananna Colado beverage. http://www.calorie-count.com/calories/item/85244.html90 calories

    0 sat fat

    0 trans fat

    23 g sugar

    0 protein

    tons of vitamin B, C, A, and E

    And no caffeine.   Here’s the bad part of my chosen drink….  It has Fructose in it.    It is an A- food.  I try to stick to A beverage choices.   www.calorie-count.com has been quite accurate in my opinion when I compare the actual label to it..they are always 100% the same.


  3. got health insurance?

    January 14, 2008 by shishnit

    Do you have health insurance?  Can you afford health insurance?  Do you not have health insurance because your job doesn’t offer it and you can’t afford it on your own?  Do you work fulltime but do not have benefits?

    I’m currently in a political course and there’s an ass clown in my class with me who believes that if you can’t afford health insurance you should just eat right and stay healthy.  He also doesn’t believe in social government programs.  He also believes that homeless people should just fix their problems themselves.

    He’s pissing me off.

    The class is strictly speaking about the current and upcoming election happenings and this guy is a jerk.

    This is why I never talk about religion or politics with the average person.

    I believe that everyone that is able should get a job and work and make a living and pay taxes and that as a society we should care about those that are less fortunate due to whatever issues.  Sure there are users of the system, those that suck it dry and I believe in mandates and laws to try to prevent that as much as possible.  However, I am compassionate and care about the woes of our society too.

    Rick does not have health insurance.  His job does not provide it.  If something happens to him he has to pay cash to resolve it.  This is not as easy as it sounds.  Many places will not even see him.  He works harder than most people I know and yet he doesn’t have health insurance.  I could add him to my policy at work; however I cannot afford the monthly premium to do this.  Perhaps after I gain my degree in another year and gain more income, but not now.  My out of pocket expenses for my own health coverage last year ended up being around $3,500.  Not so bad, but also not so good.

    And now this wouldn’t be a good time to tell anyone I just bought a new Ipod and a new digital camera.  However, I did.  And Rick’s health insurance issue keeps waging on.  Sometimes I feel guilty that I can’t sustain the monthly fee for him to be added on my policy.  Mostly I just hate his boss for not providing adequate benefits to his few but dedicated employees.  

    Do you know there are laws that provide health care for illegal aliens in our country but if you happen to be a taxpayer, the government says a big resounding “fuck you” to you.  Do you know that my best friend in Canada pays nothing for health coverage or care? Nothing. The government pays for everything and mandates the amount of money doctor’s can make, and trust that none of them are starving and none of them are tempted by greed.

    I believe we’re all responsible for ourselves.  I don’t want a hand out.  I want an answer for those that are not afforded benefits at their jobs.  There are far more in Rick’s situation than I can begin to count.  When something happens to him he has to find someone willing to take cash, and someone that he can afford.  It’s not easy.

    This assclown in class doesn’t believe that the government should help anyone.  That we should help ourselves.  I asked him if he gets Financial Aid.  He won’t answer me.  Ass clown!  Why is the government “helping” you get an education?


  4. 2008…not so great…period!

    January 7, 2008 by shishnit

    I went to the doctor on the 20th of December.  I got my period on my own on the 21st.  I wasted $10 on the co-pay for a pregnancy test.  I paid $25 for Yasmin.  I took Yasmin for 9 days and quit.  I am still bleeding.  I have been sick.  Yesterday I spent the day throwing up.  I feel anemic.  Today I feel better.  I still feel anemic.  Weak.  I’ve been craving red meat.  I hate meat.  I have used 3 boxes of regular tampons and an entire bag of pads. (overnight)  This is all too much information but perhaps just enough to say this is why I haven’t been blogging.

    I have an appointment at “NEW fancy endocrinologist who is also a reproductive endocrinologist”. Because he is both my insurance will pay for him. I quit the Yasmin because I felt like it was making me hemorrhage.  I was also told other directions.  I was told to take Provera for ten days to get a period and then start the Yasmin on the following Sunday after getting one.  But I got one myself the next day and took Yasmin the following Sunday.  I didn’t listen.  Who knows what the real issue is.  I want a doctor to “treat” the PCOS not just try to placate me.

    I really feel like I need to go to an endocrinologist so I am.  People pay thousands to see this doctor because they fly in from all over the country.  People fly into my town to see him.  (They have the airline rates and hotel rates listed on their website).  It is an infertility clinic and the doctor lists PCOS as a specialty.  I am hopeful.  At least I won’t be sitting in a waiting room with pregnant teenagers anymore.  I haven’t quite decided if I am forgoing my OB/GYN doctor but I’m leaning towards it if I get treated well on Friday morning.  Yes, Friday Jan. 11th at 8:30 a.m.  And…five minutes from my front door.  I have a well known awesome Endo five minutes from my door.

    Outside of this, there’s not been much to tell.  I had a two week break from school. I am now in two classes.  A business writing class I am finishing up and a Government class I will probably hate that is taught by a House Representative for Missouri.  Interesting I suppose.

    Work is good.  In fact work is pretty great lately.  I love my boss; she makes all the difference in the world.  She better not go anywhere. 

    The weather was also super cold for Florida. We had two nights of freezing weather.  It’s warmer now.  Whew.  That was miserable.  And it came right when I wasn’t feeling so great. 

    It appears that now Rick won’t be traveling for work.  But he’s also looking at other options etc.  

    So far 2008 has been overall worrisome.


  5. goodbye 2007

    December 31, 2007 by shishnit

    2007 is basically over. While reviewing this year in my mind the only things that come to mind are the highlights.

    The house, Infertility, College, Work

    The year started off with Math, the end of Math.

    The end of one position at work and the movement into another and then midyear yet another…two bosses this year and more to come in the next. Expansion is like that.

    The year my son turned 15.

    This year marked not as much blog writing as I ventured away from the computer as much as possible. Work and school require being stuck to a computer. I wanted life to be stuck in the living.

    This is the year that I had every single girly part tested and scanned and looked at. Every single one. $38,000 worth of medical bills. Thank goodness for Health Insurance.

    This is the year I got angry with my husband for his problems, yet this is also the year I realized that I love him despite his problems.

    This is the year I learned that talking about, writing about or even speaking out loud of infertility makes infertility much more difficult to cope with, yet I have no regrets.

    This is the year of two offices.

    The year of Clomid.

    The year of new spaces, new houses and new fenced yards.

    The year of marked up calendars and counting days and planning sex.

    This was the year of “extract” medicine and social fires.

    Another year of writing papers, reading coursework and getting more A’s.

    This year marked our second year of wedded togetherness

    This year I didn’t blog as much. Nor did I feel obligated as much. Obligated to do anything simply out of obligation. I find that obligations lead to ill feelings.

    This year I read a lot of Buddhism books. I also read a lot of self help books. I read and read and mostly read nonfiction and religion and psychology books. I entered the joyful electives in college and earned straight A’s in my core courses. I also gained a library and more space. I also gained a better outlook on life. I also started to have more faith in myself.

    In 2008 I want to write more for fun. I want to write more from the gut about everything. I want to fear less what others might say to me about what I write and what I truly feel. I want to go back to not censoring myself because it’s healthier. I want simple things.]

    My ABC’s of 2008

    Authenticity – I want to be true to myself.

    Artistic outlet – I want to write by hand, write poetry, type up my book to date

    Books and Blogs – I want to continue to find time to “read”. Simply “read”. I want to continue to cut back on the blogs I read, reading only those that enrich me, empower me and make me learn something more.

    Chloe – I want to hug her, kiss her, love her, keep her…forever.

    Dawns, I want to watch the sun come up more often. Perhaps a few beach hours early in the morning.

    Early morning breakfasts before work. I want to eat better.

    Food, that is healthy.

    Growth, I want to grow as a person and never forget how joyous learning is.

    History, I want to let go of more emotional baggage this year.

    Icing. I want to always remember to ice every cake, the best of anything without the icing is not the best that it can be.

    Joking around. I love a good joke and want to find more of them this year.

    Keith. I want to be closer to him this year. Teenage years suck!

    Love. I want to give more away than I can possible gain for myself. I want to love without abandon.

    Money. I want to save more, earn more, give more, and worry less.

    Neverland. I want to remember my little girl side. I want to read more children’s books I loved as a child. I want to play more, dream more, make shapes out of clouds and let go of adult worries more often.

    Open. I want to be open to new experiences, better relationships, deeper friendships.

    PCOS. I want to conquer it. I want to rule it. I want to beat it.

    Queen. I want to be the queen of my world every day. Imagining I have a crown and I can rule only my world.

    Rick. I want to be closer, hug more, enjoy more, spend more time and do more without a heavy heart or fear or resentments.

    Sex. More more more please. Happy joyful loving…

    Time. I want more time to enjoy, more time to relax. More time to simply be.

    Understanding. I want to find peace with my religious and spiritual path. I want to finally say “ah ha” and be one with it all.

    Variety. I want to build new traditions and find a variety of ways to have fun. Fun, more fun please. Bubble baths and movie nights and more things together.

    Without worrying. I want to explore without fear, do without worry and breath deeply instead of clenching my teeth with worry. Worry never mends a bridge, nor does it stop a flood. I want to build boats with my hope and paddle with my grief and make good use of the bad turning it into only good.

    X. I want to truly 100% forgive my ex-husband. I say I have, I try to. I still get angry at him, against him, etc. I want to be able to tell him I’ve forgiven him once and for all.

    Yoyo. I want to stop the yo yo dieting the yo yo changing. I want to accept that I will have to do certain things to have certain outcomes. I want to make small changes that equal bigger changes. I want to find peace in who I am while still being strong enough to change into something better. I want to stop going up and down in determining what it is that I truly want to be and just let it be. I just want to “be”.

    Zealous. I want to be intense, passionate and enthusiastic about all the things I love to do in life. I want to adore, enjoy and be truly involved in the activities that I choose to take part of. I want to enjoy 100% of every single day.

    I also have a few projects I want to work on this year.

    1. Organize and publish a cookbook with my grandmother’s recipes in it
    2. Find proper storage for my CD’s and catalog my collection
    3. Put together that “Things that I love” poster/frame

    Special thanks to Michelle, Kristyk, Siobhan, Jenniy, and Lori for being strong woman who have said the right things at imperative moments throughout 2007. You have made me a better me.