Day 4 - VERY!

VERY.... the apparent answer to yesterday's question! I spoke with the physician and not only did I have botox http://www.spalumina.com/botox.phptreatments on my upper and lower lips and I had accutip laser http://www.spalumina.com/laser-vein-treatment.phptreatments to a few sun spots and a couple of reddish veins on my cheeks that were noticeable to me. Both treatments were pretty painless. The only downtime, was no vigorous exercise or lying down for four hours. So in a few days I shouldn't look so battered as I have been. lol I'm not looking to look 20, or even 40 again.. just not to look older than I think I should. I decided if I can afford it, and I feel it is safe and doable than I should have a go at it. So here we are... freshly lasered, botoxed with mustache gone and eyebrows now being electrolysized! I am still a bit bemused by the fact that I was even thinking about this, let alone go through with it. Those of you who know me well will understand that. ;-)


I did do the grape thing as planned as an afternoon snack and after a failed attempt to do a cardio workout at the gym as it is closed earlier than I thought, I came home to my dinner. Tonight I made a baby spinach salad just like last night only without the meat. I decided to go meatless tonight. For an evening snack I had more grapes and some Beet (some people will be groaning at the mention of beets) and Sweet Potato Chips.






I have also decided that considering as my diet is being a bit limited, that I should take some vitamin supplements. I grabbed a multivitamin prepared for the 50+ crowd, some Calcium Citrate 200 mg as I have reflux, and if you have stomach problems the Calcium should be in the citrate form for it to be absorbed, and some Citamin D-1000u. Oh I am going to be so healthy.. in the words of Ben Stein in his commercial "I am almost giddy with excitement"!

How Vain am I?

Today will tell the tale. I am off to the Spa. Electrolysis first... figured seeing as how I have been used as a pin cushion all winter, a few more wouldn't hurt and then I'd get rid of my emerging moustache! That presented problems of its own. Nothing serious mind you. It is like painting one room in a house. Once you get that done, the hall looks shabby and you have to fix it, then another room etc etc until you end up doing the whole thing. That is what I am likening this too. To that end, after my electrolysis session, I have a consultation and possible treatment appointment (and I can't hardly believe I am even typing this) for botox and laser treatment. I would never have even thought those words would ever pass my lips. Not only has that now occurred, by the time I get home, I may have had the botox treatment! Laser takes more planning. Stay tuned folks.

I'm not eating breakfast today. According to my glocometer, I have enough sugar in my system to get me through the next few hours without starving. I am thinking my first meal will be a mid afternoon snack of grapes. I am wondering if that wonderful juice "Secrets of the Valley" had anything to do with my levels. There was no added sugar or sugar substitutes, but it was terribly sweet. Maybe I will do a juice test in the next little bit.

Off to the SPA!

Snack and Dinner

The smoothie lunch didn't happen as I had a nap. ;-) When I got up I snacked on rice crackers, apple juice and sweet potato chips.

Dinner was spinach leaves with julienned carrot strips, cucumber coins, onions, celery and topped with poached salmon slices from the extra salmon piece I cooked last evening. Topped it off with an olive oil balsamic vinaigrette. Followed it up with a 100% juice blend of apple, cherry, black currant and pear juices by a company called Ceres. It is called Secrets of the Valley. Cool name. There is no sugar or sugar substitutes added . It was a lot sweeter than I am used to, but otherwise pretty good.



Day 2 of the diet is almost complete and so far so good. My fasting Blood Glucose this morning was the 2nd lowest of the week. I haven't been doing the before and after meals since starting on this diet. I guess it because the times of eating have been a bit off as I tried to combine appropriate foods to eat.

TGIF

Ah... Fridays! Last day to do strength training for 2 days! This morning went well... me 1 body 0! Oh it complained a little, but overall it was a good workout. 30 mins cardio and 50 mins of upper body strength training. Then home for breakfast. I toasted my brown rice bread today before adding the apple butter. It was lighter and much better I think. Because of the density, you need to toast it twice before you notice any toasting going on! I had that for breakfast after my work out along with a fruit salad of peaches, mango, cherries, blueberries, and grapes.

When I was out purchasing some of this fine food yesterday, I picked up a carton of almond milk. I haven't had the nerve to try it yet. I am thinking I need to get on with it and maybe, if it tastes okay to me, I can have a fruit smoothie for lunch!


The gardens are doing wonderful things for my spirit. It means growth and renewal and the assurance that winter is over and summer will arrive. The spring blooms in the back garden are wonderful and the promise of the tulips to come is inspiring.

The Elimination, Hypoallergenic Diet!

Somewhere along the line, my body got old! My mind is still frolicking about like a 30 year old, but the poor body is not keeping up. Time to get things under control. I don't want to always be deciding what to do according to aches, pains or lab reports! While flipping through the city's spring and summer recreation guide, I circled some new stuff to do. One was "Cleanse with Your Friends". Okay, I have heard about this. I even purchased one of the box kits you can get at the health food store. That did not work out very well! It was a super sweet drink, followed by a thick drink (bulk laxative) and a handful of vitamins and minerals. I just couldn't do that one. This one did not say we had to purchase anything so I figured.. alright.. this will be a breeze! I already shop the outside aisles.. love fruits and veggies and have switched to whole grains where possible. I don' t eat a lot of sugar or sodium. My downfall is decaffeinated, diet cola that is really just coloured fizzy water with a lot of sodium. That and Iced coffee I knew were on the chopping block. That was okay.. I could handle that. I went to the classes feeling quite smug as to the diet and figured I would really score on the spiritual and meditation portions of the program. Was I wrong! After discussing the diet in class, I left with this sinking feeling, that the next 3 weeks were going to be full of spinach salads for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks!

It wasn't long before I was beginning to think of what I could eat. I stopped at the store and got some grapefruit for breakfast. I can't have my usual yogurt, fruit and granola or toast and eggs. Came home and saw where I was not allowed them. Okay.. on to plan B. Decided it would have to be grapes. So after I worked out with my personal trainer at the gym, I came home via the lab for blood work, to a breakfast of grapes and water.

Not very far from my thoughts, I grabbed my diet sheet and headed out to health food types stores/departments. I purchased some brown rice bread and brown rice spaghetti. I picked up some zucchini, organic apple butter, organic apple sauce, celery, green onions and replenished my olive oil and balsamic vinegar stock. For dinner I poached some salmon, tossed some brown rice spaghetti in heated garlic infused olive oil and topped the pasta with some steamed veggies (zucchini, onions, carrots). For crunch I added celery sticks and a couple of green onions. Not bad and day 1 of this diet is almost in the bag!

Lack of Discipline!

Okay.. it is now quite apparent that I have not followed through on the new posts. I did try some new stuff and did take pics with the intention of posting here. Well we all know where good intentions lead! ;-) However, I am not going to give up. Maybe it was lack of material? Maybe it was difficulty in getting started? It could have been that my health issues were taking priority.

As most of my firends and family know, I have put in rather a hellish fall and winter beginning September 2009. It began with tingling and numbness in my right hand which became so bothersome that it drove me to the walk-in clinic. The doctor determined it was not cardiac related, gave me the name of a doctor who does female physicals and orders screening tests for women without a doctor and sent me to physio. By going to physio I was able to get my own family doctor as there was a new doc in the building taking new patients. The physiotherapist diagnosed Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (http://www.medicinenet.com/thoracic_outlet_syndrome/article.htm) and began some myofascial releases http://www.myofascialrelease.com/fascia_massage/public/default.asp, ultrasound and current to the area. When things were worsening instead of improving, she added in a chiropractor who agreed with the diagnosis and began treatment doing the same type of releases and using a thumper machine on my back.

With things worsening and me taking 2-3 robaxicet tabs ever 2 hours, I was able to get an appointment with the doctor prior to the scheduled physical. Eventually, I ended up on a 24 hour pain medication and a nerve pain medication at bedtime that at least relieved the pain. For the first time in months I was pain free. Then the tests began... bloodwork, routine screening tests such as bone density, mammogram, colonoscopy and EKG, echocardiogram and xrays and MRI of my cervical spine. Everything seemed to be messed up. The long and short of it being, that I am on blood pressure medication, a couple of polyps and most of an adenoma was removed during the colonoscopy meaning that I get to have a repeat in a year, and that medication is likely in the future for cholesterol and diabetes. A neurological consult revealed nerve damage in my right arm. Thoracic Outlet Syndrome turned into 2 herniated discs which are still protruding slightly. I can't bungee jump anymore!

Now that I am feeling better, I am determined to improve what I can to reduce the amount of medication or delay the onset of taking new medication as long as possible. To this end, I am now the proud owner of a glucometer and I am studying how various foods affect my blood glucose level. Perhaps my favourite problematic foods can be eaten at different times or with different sides to minimize the effect. I began an elimination/hypoallergenic diet today. It is to last for 3 weeks in which my body can cleanse itself and be ready to try foods gradually and test the effect on my overall health. I have also headed out to the gym to strengthen whatever I can before I have the promised relapse my neurologist told me about.

So if you want to follow me on this journey, then hop aboard. I will share my frustrations of the don'ts of my diet and hopefully have some interesting ideas to make my meals palatable.. indeed, even enjoyable! I will also let you know how I am feeding my soul as I proceed with this journey. Mind, body and soul have to be looked at together. Just strengthening one and ignoring the others will cause an imbalance and produce more difficulties. So come along and offer your suggestions as i try to regain balance in my life through opportunitues that are presenting themselves to me.

Summer 2009

When I started this blog, it was with every intention of having a fabulous foodie summer (which I did) and writing about it here (which I did not). However, as most things go and not being very disciplined I only got half the job done. We smoked brisket, ribs, chicken, pork and a turkey. We grilled corn, steaks, burgers, dogs, pork and chicken. We made salads, had potatoes in a variety of ways, cooked up rice and pasta and made quesedillas and tacos. Home made ice-cream sweetened the meal along with strawberry short cake and birthday cupcakes. We ate out on may occasions as well. None of this was photographed and documented. If I hadn't enjoyed eating it as much as I did, I might be ashamed, but I'm not. The purpose of good food is not in writing about it, but it is in the enjoyment. I will try to be better at writing about it too in order to keep this blog current.

This week I have been cooking through some recipes that I wrote out of a cookbook at a home I was staying at this past weekend. I haven't taken any pictures so far, but will try to do so tonight so that when I write about this week's cookfest, I can dress up the page with nice pics! So far I have cooked salmon and chicken from the purloined recipes, and tonight will be pork chop. I snuck in a grilled t-bone in the midst of these. Signing off now, optimistic that my next post is a few short days away!