www.workathomeunited.com/brandy and click on more information

After a series of tests, she plans on being discharged tomorrow (Saturday morning). It is still inconclusive as the what the episodes were caused by. My mom is a diabetic and had not been following a proper meal schedule, so these episodes could have been hypoglycemic events, which can mimic TIA's.

She has met with a nutritionist, a diabetic educator, a doctor, a neurologist. She even had an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging). They found she had no blockage in her arteries in her neck (common reason for TIAs), but did find a Cerebellar Infarct which is a small area in the cerebellum part of the brain that is dead tissue. This is not an acute problem, but chronic and it cannot be treated but has been determined is not the reason for the episodes she has been experiencing.

She feels fine now and is eager to get back home to her baby (Cornelia, her dog). I am planning on picking her up tomorrow and then eventually returning to Provincetown.

Will keep everyone posted on her health.

However, I like most other people love to have a beer on a hot day or that glass of wine or two or three :) at dinner.  I believe we can have the best of both worlds.

Here is what I am thinking:

1.  Drinking everday will most likely lead to weight gain

2.  Remember, you don't have to "clean your plate"...the push away from the table method is one of my favorites.

3.  Don't feal quilty having your beverage of choice.

4.  If all we did was eat extremely concious and healthy every day it wouldn't be any fun.  Learn to Splurge!

5.  Drinks at dinner?  I eat a bowl of oatmeal in the morning instead of Eggs and Toast.

So sit out in the sun, read a book, and have a beer!

Cheers!

Out in the middle of the cornfields a couple hours south of Chicago is a little town named Crescent City.  You wouldn't even know it was a city... I didn't see a drugstore, a bank or a grocery store and don't you need those?  But they have something better... they have the Heartland Spa.  It's a farm out in the middle of a cornfield with a beautiful lake, a huge barn with spa facilities, massage, a swimming pool, sauna,  a really wonderful salon,  a kitchen big enough for Barb to cook up yummy  low calorie meals and enough beds to sleep 32 people.   For some of us the biggest problem was the first one we saw...  Now, somehow I didn't see the sign... everyone was talking about it and I kept saying what sign, so I had to walk back out and take a photo.  (I didn't take any junkfood!)

When everyone first gets there they are a little shy.  Everyone wondering what to expect.  Many of them had been there before so they knew they didn't have to bring much.  We had workout clothes and robes provided and anytime we felt they were soiled you just put them on a mat outside your door and a little clothes fairy came and replaced them with clean ones.  (I'm going to place a mat outside my door tonight and see if any little laundry fairies followed me home.  I left my car door unattended and open in hopes that while my back was turned, one would hop in.)

Chris arrived from Chicago about an hour after I did and you can see the long driveway into the spa.  When you say spa one immediately thinks of plush, quiet, soothing, modern.  This spa is definitely not modern, but the landscape is beautiful.  There is a gorgeous mini-lake with paddleboats and a serenity walk around it.  There is a little patio where you can sunbathe, areas where you can walk in solitude, bicycles for you to ride.

It is not modern, but it is not ancient either.  We had a very nice room with three big windows and a gorgeous view with a tub/shower.  We had one of the nicer rooms there and I was very happy I had paid a little more to upgrade.  We really didn't spend a lot of time in our room, but it was nice to have if you needed it... and once or twice we did.

There were a couple of adjustments we had to make.  For Chris it was waking up at 7:00 a.m. every morning, but she was a real trouper!  For both of us it was the casual attire constantly.  It was no big deal to come to the dining table in a robe with the fresh scrubbed look of the shower, or having just had a massage, or just out of the pool or sauna or maybe you just had one of the salon treatments.  We're even talking the dinner table!  Everyone was barefoot all the time and few people ever had any make up on.  Yes, folks, it was not a pretty time for me!  It was a good thing I wear glasses because it was the only way you knew where my eyes were.  My hair was totally another thing.  It was always AWFUL!!!!!!  At first that bothered me, but then later not so much.... No, that's not true... it pretty much always bothered me, but it was an impossible task.  My hair did not like the water there plus, if I wasn't working out and "sweating" I was getting a massage or a treatment which messes up your tresses.  I know, I know, nobody is feeing sorry for me and I'm not really whining.  It was a fact of life and everyone lived with it and didn't worry about it.

The other thing that was different was eating at designated times.  The food was really very good and there was a lot.  It seemed we were always being fed.  Breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, and popcorn before bedtime.  There was always water, tea and sparkling water available with a table filled with berries, bananas and other fruits.

Well, my hands are tired and I need to unpack and lay out my clothes for the laundry fairy!  See you tomorrow with Brenda Photo Challenge!

Many, if not all of us on MWC, have heard at one time or another how gracefully we have handled the hurdles life has thrown in our way.  I am no exception.  Yet I have never spoken so elequently about the important things in life, view those things so clearly, nor taken the time to preserve them for my future generations as Randy Pauch.  I first saw him on Oprah one afternoon.  I was immediately struck by how calmly he spoke of his own impending death.  I'm sure we can all relate to that calloused-over feeling that can creep up on a cancer patient from time to time.  When a topic has been re-hashed so many times that it ceases to be your life or death but instead a list of facts and statistics with variables and probabilities.  I recognized that characteristic in him that day for all his smiles and jokes.  Until...

Until he was asked about his children.  The chink in his armour.  And he knew it.  Mr. Pauch said as much when he declined to talk about them.  "I'm only human.  And the thought of leaving them..."  I don't remember exactly what he said but the sentiment was obvious. 

When I think about dying it's the only thing that makes me want to cry, too.  During chemo I could talk about cancer all day long.  I could talk about dying, death, funerals, Daddy-O remarrying, life insurance, hospice, mastectomies, saying good-bye to friends, etc., etc.  But let one mention of my babies come into the conversation and the waterworks began.  I immediately felt like running from the room.  Oh, I wouldn't have talked about my kids on Oprah, either.  No way.

How painful to leave one's children knowing they are far, far too young to remember you.  My own Dad died when I was 14.  I have some pretty good memories of him but they get fainter every year.  Sometimes I wonder if they are even memories at all or just photographs I've seen and a child's imagination to go with them.  Oh, how I would dearly love to have his words to read.  His thoughts, hopes and dreams. 

This is the gift that Randy Pauch left for his children.  For his wife.  For the world. 

God's speed, Randy.

I really haven’t given much thought to mammograms.  After all, at 32, I assumed I’d have 8 more blissful years of virgin breasts before subjecting them to the dreaded procedure.  When a family history pressed the need to be seen sooner, I’ll admit, I wasn’t prepared.

I have a vivid imagination and in the days preceding the mammogram, I created many scenarios that floated around my head, popping up at various moments reminding me the deadline was closing in.  Other women would tell me “It’s better than getting a pap smear” which always made me feel better until I would see the smile playing at the corners of their mouths, leaving me to wonder if they were really being truthful.  Maybe it’s a vast conspiracy.  Maybe the initiated keep the virgin mammogrammer’s in the dark, only to throw their head back in sinister laughter when we are out of sight.  Maybe…

I have dreaded this day, and yet I have come through victorious on the other end, and, the truth be told, it wasn’t really as bad as I was expecting.  For all of you first time mammogrammer’s out there, this is my story.

After filling out paperwork I am escorted back to a tiny sitting room with 2 dressing rooms adjoining.  A TV drones instructions for Self Breast Exams (SBE) and 2 women in pink hospital tops are watching.  A curtain is thrown back and I am told that everything on top must come off and am given a pink gift bag to place my items in.  The gift bag is huge!  I don’t know how much stuff they think I wear above my waist, but I could fit half of my closet in this bag.  I notice a box of baby wipes with the words “Remove Deodorant” written on top.  Aha!  So I could have worn deodorant before I came, despite what the scheduler told me.  I’ll know better next time.  I struggle briefly trying to close the curtain enough so the ladies in the waiting room don’t see me.  It doesn’t work.  There’s still a small crack on either end that won’t be closed.  I dutifully remove everything above the waist and put the hospital top on, snaps to the front.  Mine is broken.  It only has 2 snaps and they end just below my breasts.  I’m just about to ask the Nurse for another when I realize, it’s supposed to be this way.

Back in the waiting room my Nurse, Nancy, calls me back for the Clinical Breast Exam (CBE).  I follow her down the hall, valiantly trying to keep my top from flapping open to expose my midriff.  Nancy looks at my breasts and performs a breast exam while I am sitting.  Next she has me lie down, arms behind my head as though I’m relaxing in the warm summer sun.  In fact, I’m tired and could probably take a quick nap right now if it wasn’t for the poking and prodding that’s still going on.  I ask her about heredity and she affirms that getting a mammogram in your 30’s or even in your 20’s isn’t a bad idea if you have a family history of breast cancer.  I’m also informed that I could have left my watch and necklace on.  She then gives me some pamphlets and escorts me back to the tiny waiting room.

Browsing through them I read the same information I’ve always known; at the age of 40 women need to have their first mammogram.  I am struck by the fact that no where in the pamphlet does it say some women should have one earlier.

My name is called and I follow my Technician, Rebecca, down the hall.  When I worked on an assembly line, we would name a few of the more prominent machines.  Names like Jaws, or Finger Muncher.  I am relieved to see that “Crusher” is not emblazoned across the mammogram machine.  Rebecca moves a cord out of my path, then a rolling stool sitting in the middle of the room.  “You’d think we had this place booby trapped” she laughs.  Um, isn’t that the point?

I warily eye the Crusher.  It stands imposingly in the corner and I scurry past it as though it will reach out and grab my unsuspecting boob if I am within reach. 

Rebecca informs me that I am lucky!  I will be getting a state of the art Digital Mammogram.  Well whoopdeedoo.  Does it still mash the breasts like a professional food eater mashes a hamburger together during the National Championship?  I’ll save my luck for later.

I am horribly ignorant about the actual mammogram procedure.  I know it involves radiation and squeezing the breasts, but up until now I’ve always imagined a robot like platform being lowered over my breast to apply the pressure.  Kind of like a die stamps out coins.  I ask Rebecca if she uses different pressure settings based on a woman’s breast size.  Let’s face it.  I really don’t want my C cups getting the same pressure you A cup ladies get.  She assures me it’s completely customized.  Whew!

I step up to the machine and Rebecca lowers the Crusher’s platform to roughly the height of my waist.  I’m horrified!  I know I breastfed and all, but I didn’t realize they’d sagged that low!  She pushes me closer and relief floods through me when the platform is raised, only now I feel like I should be standing on tippy toes.  Visions of the machine going haywire and me hanging by one breast from the vicinity of the ceiling do nothing to calm my nerves.  Rebecca is placing and smoothing and pulling my breast in an attempt to get as much of it on the platform as possible.  Then she lowers the meat and potatoes part of the Crusher, all the while still manipulating my breast to make sure it’s just right.  I watch in horror as she cranks down the pressure.  10, 14, and finally 17 pounds of pressure the digital readout says.  Ironically though, it’s not really painful.  Rebecca says that can change depending on what time it is in a woman’s cycle.  The top platform is clear plastic and as Rebecca retreats behind her screen I cannot resist the urge to look down.  My poor breast is smooshed out to 5.5 on the scale and appears strangely disassociated from my body.

Rebecca tells me to hold my breath and I hear the X-Ray whirr.  The process is repeated on the other breast, then the Crusher is tilted to get a picture of each breast from the side.  She tells me I will get the results in about a week and takes me back to the dressing room.

I walk to my car with both breasts intact; a little achy, but they are still attached to my chest and indeed a mammogram IS better than getting a pap smear.  If getting a mammogram means I might be around my family longer, then it's definitely worth it.

Today I was on the elevator with two of you, my coworkers, heading to lunch. You were talking about how you wanted the ribs or the fried chicken but should probably just have the mandarin salad with lite dressing and a glass of water, and what would I be having?

I informed you that I like the cheeseburgers at this restaurant, and was considering ordering one.

You both narrowed your eyes at me. Whatever, you said, at your age you can eat anything you want, cheeseburgers, all of that, you don’t know what it’s like to have to watch your weight.

Yes, I pointed out. Yes I do.

One of you looked me up and down and said yeah right, it wouldn’t hurt me to put on a few pounds.

I pointed out that I am a perfectly healthy weight right now (I owe that to my Depo shots, without which I would still be a gangly 105 pounds soaking wet) and I intend to stay that way. So yes, I am watching my weight. Exercise, I say, that’s where I really need to step up. I may be skinny but I have terrible muscle tone.

Again, you sniffed and rolled your eyes.

What is your problem, people? Is it so wrong of me to say that I want to take care of my body and I realize that I could have healthier habits? Just because my problems are not the same as your problems gives you no right to be rude about it. And I tell you this: you are rude. Rude, I say.

You’ll see, you say, gray-haired and ageist. You’ll see, when you get older and you’re not 100 pounds anymore, it won’t be easy.

Ladies, it’s not easy for me NOW. I have to fight to keep weight on while I’m trying to keep my hypertensive diastolic under control. That in itself is a quandary, because steamed veggies are great for my blood pressure and don’t help me maintain my weight. I don’t like that my muscles aren’t what they used to be, so I exercise and you sniff that I don’t need to get any skinnier. You’re right, I don’t. Until I started my Depo-Provera shot and gained 15 pounds, I was pale, anemic and basically had no immune system. And back then you said I was anorexic and bulimic. You said it was my fault. You were never happy with my body and you never will be until I start wearing clothes in double-digit sizes.

Guess what? I have a little pudge on my tummy and I don’t like it. I should probably do some crunches. I have cellulite on my ass and my thighs and I don’t like that either. Maybe I need to get out the weights and do a few squats. There are things I can do to be healthier, and do you really want to discourage me from doing them? Does it make you feel better about yourself to be rude to the skinny girl, to belittle her problems because they happen to be the opposite of your own?

Sometimes the grass sucks on this side of the fence too.

I eat cheeseburgers because I like them and I need to keep my weight up, I exercise because I need better muscle tone and it helps lower my high blood pressure (My cholesterol, by the way, is quite fine). And you tell me to enjoy it while I can, because I am surely doomed to one day be as fat as you perceive yourself to be.

Leave the labels out of it: fat and skinny and obese and scrawny and plus-size and anorexic and all the others. Good health is the best goal for all of us, whether that means gaining weight, losing weight, maintaining weight, working out, watching what we eat, or building our self-esteem in what we are. I don’t want to be skinny and sick any more than you want to be overweight and fighting your own set of health issues. So we have a common goal and we both struggle. Don’t tell me we’re so different.

Healthy is beautiful.

No study participant had a prior history of cancer or heart disease in 1986, when the study began. At follow-up in 1998, women who had followed zero to one of the AICR recommendations were 1.35 times more likely to have cancer than women who implemented six to nine of the recommendations. CVD mortality risk did not appear to be correlated with the number of AICR recommendations followed.

The 14 AIR recommendations are summarized as follows:

1. Food supply/eating habits: Consume a plant-based diet rich in fruits and vegetables; minimize starchy foods.
2. Body weight: Avoid being underweight or overweight; limit adult weight gain.
3. Physical activity: Perform moderate daily exercise; exercise vigorously at least one hour per week.
4. Vegetable and fruit intake: Eat five or more servings of fruits/vegetables per day (excluding pulses and starchy vegetables).
5. Consumption of other plant foods: Eat seven or more daily portions of a variety of cereals, roots, tubers, plantains, etc.; minimize intake of processed foods and refined sugars.
6. Alcohol consumption: Alcohol intake is discouraged; if at all, limit to less than one drink per day.
7. Meat consumption: If consumed at all, limit to 3 ounces daily.
8. Total fats and oils: Limit consumption of fatty foods; use moderate amounts of appropriate vegetable oils when necessary.
9. Salt and salting: Limit consumption of salted foods and use of cooking/table salt; use herbs and spices as alternate seasoning options.
10. Food storage: Do not eat food subject to contamination due to long storage at ambient temperatures.
11. Food preservation methods: Preserve perishable food appropriately via refrigeration, freezing, etc.
12. Additives and residues: Minimize levels of additives, contaminants and other residues in food sources.
13. Food preparation: Consume grilled or broiled meat and fish occasionally, avoiding burning of meat juices and charring.
14. Dietary supplements: Supplementation is probably unnecessary if appropriate dietary strategies are followed.

The AICR also recommends that individuals avoid smoking or chewing tobacco, for various health reasons.

Conclusions: "Adherence to the AICR recommendations, independently and in conjunction with not smoking, is likely to have a substantial public health impact on reducing cancer incidence and, to a lesser degree, cancer mortality at the population level." The authors add that their findings support public policy initiatives regarding proper diet, weight control and physical activity, to help reduce the incidence of cancer and other chronic diseases.

Cerhan JR, Potter JD, Gilmore JME, et al. Adherence to the AICR cancer prevention recommendations and subsequent morbidity and mortality in the Iowa Women's Health Study cohort. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention July 2004;13(7):1114-20. http://cebp.aacrjournals.org

I was wrong. At lunch today, in the car, I fell apart. I had been holding it in since this morning when my son told me he wished he was dead. The Crohn's disease, the social isolation, the uncertainty of life has caused him to be anxious, depressed, and inclined to hurt himself.

This has happened more than once. And at 3 a.m. this morning, we were sitting on the bed crying together. Granted, he is sick. He says he has terrible insomnia and cannot sleep. I have been distracted by my own selfish dramas. Neither of us are doing well. But I decided right then, I had to do something. It was really hard to leave him and just go to work today.

He has tried two different antidepressants himself ... both with ill effects. I called the doctor and he advised that we take him to the hospital, which is what I was afraid of. They may admit him. And if that saves his life, he may hate me forever. But he'll be alive.

I feel like I am drowning in an emotinal whirlpool... and the last thing I was going to grab was a bottle of pills. But I've tried everything else. I've been crying every day for two weeks now. I have a lot of reasons to cry, but I can't solve anything that way.

I have no illusions that the pill I took is going to make me "happy"... or even help me for weeks. But I had to do something. I have to be able to think clearly, and look past my own sadness for a solution to this. I am not going to lose my son. No matter what I have to do. Even grown up. set an example, and follow my own doctor's instructions. I just hope it helps.

It's obvious to me I am not doing much better than he is. And I can't help him that way.

You have 2 minutes to complete each interval of pt.

Max pushups (100), max situps (over 150 FULL situps; no crunches), max dead-hang pullups (20)

Immediately followed by a 3 mile timed run (15-18 minutes) and a 1/2 mile open ocean swim

You weren't planning on skipping your workout today were you?

Have to start promoting the site more now.

This post from GunDogDoc has excellent information on recognizing treating heatstroke.  While you're there, look around a bit.  Dr. Joe Spoo has an excellent new blog.  We're regular visitors.

FrogDogBlog - appropriately (since Carol breeds French Bulldogs) - has another very good post a couple of very good posts on the importance of not being a complete and utter moron when comes to leaving pets in hot cars. 

Luisa over at Lassie Get Help has a couple of very good posts on the dangers posed by foxtails. 

Pat the Terrierman wrote this little gem on dogs and porcupines. 

This is our post about tornados and thunder storm safety, written back in May.

And last, but not least, this important article from our Dr. Marty Becker at PetConnection on how to recognize an emergency - something EVERY pet owner needs to know.

Have a safe weekend!

Prego ladies get all kinds of cravings.  I'll admit that not all of mine have been healthy (most actually).  With my older son, I had terrible cravings for Squirt, Mac n'Cheese (out of a box...i know...unbelievable!), and Baskin Robbin's chocolate & peanut butter ice cream.  With my daughter it was french fries with fry sauce (combination of mayo & catsup).  Unfortunately, the strongest cravings I had with my third, and latest pregnancy were things I couldn't eat...fresh salads, apples, and tomatoes.  All three would make me throw up the entire pregnancy, and the heartburn was the worst with this lil' guy.  (Surprisingly, he was also born with the most hair...maybe that wives tale is correct...) 

So after much dreamin', I've been able to enjoy a large salad nearly twice a day lately!  I love to make a homemade salad dressing, but usually stick to my old faithful: balsamic vinegrette.  (another development goal: other homemade dressings).  The salads are made up of various things, but I like to have a bit of meat, cheese, nuts or seeds, and fruit with some dark leafy greens...whatever is around.

Today's summer salad:

baby spinach (enough to fill a large bowl...depending on how many you're serving)

1/4 c walnut pieces

1/4 c emmental swiss cheese, cut into small pieces

1/2 c strawberries, quartered

2-3 slices deli roast beef, cut into small pieces

2 tbs basalmic vinegrette

Serves 3-4 if using as a side, or 2 if eating as your main course

balsamic vinegrette:
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1 cup olive oil
1/2 tbs sucanat
2 garlic cloves, pressed
1/2 tsp oregano, dried
1/4 tsp basil, dried
1/4 tsp onion powder (or a small cube pressed)
1/4 tsp salt

Tilapia is often touted as the single most important aquaculture product in the 21st century.  In fact, Dr. Kevin Fitzsimmons, president of the World Aquaculture Society, called tilapia as the “foodfish of the 21st century.”

Tilapia has been around since biblical times.  Most of them were raised before in Africa, but accidental and deliberate introductions of tilapia into freshwater lakes made them feasible to be raised in tropical climate such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Malaysia. 

“Historically, the introduction of the first tilapia species, the Mozambique tilapia, in the Philippines in 1950 was initially not well-accepted by the industry because of the lack of appropriate culture techniques,” reports Dr. Rafael D. Guerrero III, the executive director of the Laguna-based Philippine Council for Aquaculture and Marine Research and Development (PCAMRD). 

“Growth of the fish in ponds was stunted with too much breeding and overpopulation. The small size and dark color of the fish did not also appeal to local consumers,” he added.

The coming of the Nile tilapia in the 1970s improved the acceptance of tilapia in the country because of its lighter color and faster growth compared to the Mozambique tilapia.

Considered the “aquatic chicken,” the tilapia has good attributes that make it suitable for aquaculture.  “It matures early, breeds readily and is a hardy fish,” Dr. Guerrero said.  

The Philippines was the world leader in tilapia production from aquaculture in 1986.  “Our country produced 135,996 metric tons of tilapia in 2003 and was second to China in world production,” Dr. Guerrero said.

Pampanga is considered the “tilapia capital” of the Philippines.  Statistics have shown that Central Luzon produced 50% of the total tilapia production in the country in the last five years.  In 2003, Pampanga produced 65,000 metric tons of tilapia.

“You are the center of food production in the region and this is one of the reasons why we want to empower people in the countryside,” said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in her recent visit to the province.

Most of the tilapia raised in the Philippines are consumed locally.  Unknown to many, there is a growing international market demand for tilapia as a foodfish.

“In the United States, tilapia has shown the biggest gains in popularity among seafood, and this trend is expected to continue as consumption is projected to increase from 1.5 million tons in 2003 to 2.5 million tons by 2010,” the Journal of the American Dietetic Association disclosed.

Like Americans, Europeans are also fond of tilapia since they consider it as “white meat,” a health food low in cholesterol and fat. Also, chefs have a preference for tilapia’s firm meat.

Aside from its large demand in the world market, tilapia also commands a high price.  In the United States, for instance, the typical retail price for whole live tilapia is from US$4-10 per kilo, while fresh tilapia fillet is being sold at US$8-10 per kilo.

But there are some bad news.  In the United States, a study has shown that eating tilapia is not good for those with heart problems.  “Cardiologists are telling their patients to go home and eat fish, and if the patients are poor, they’re eating tilapia. And that could translate into a dangerous situation,” said the researchers from the Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

Their studies showed that farm-raised tilapia has very low levels of beneficial omega-3 fatty acid and, perhaps worse, very high levels of omega-6 fatty acids, they claim.

The researchers say the combination could be a potentially dangerous food source for some patients with heart disease, arthritis, asthma and other allergic and auto-immune diseases that are particularly vulnerable to an “exaggerated inflammatory response.” Inflammation is known to cause damage to blood vessels, the heart, lung and joint tissues, skin, and the digestive tract.

In an article which appeared in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, the researchers claimed that tilapia has higher levels of potentially detrimental long-chain omega-6 fatty acids than 80-percent-lean hamburger, doughnuts and even pork bacon.

“For individuals who are eating fish as a method to control inflammatory diseases such as heart disease, it is clear from these numbers that tilapia is not a good choice,” the article said.  “All other nutritional content aside, the inflammatory potential of hamburger and pork bacon is lower than the average serving of farmed tilapia.”

Take note that the researchers are focusing on farmed tilapia.  “In a fish-farming situation, the fish that you get depends on what they are fed,” explained Dr. Floyd Chilton, a professor of physiology and pharmacology and the director of the Wake Forest Center for Botanical Lipids.

“Now if these fish are fed, as in the wild, Omega 3 fatty acids and algae, then they’re going to have long-chain Omega 3 fatty acids, which are going to be incredibly beneficial. However, if these fish are fed short-chain Omega 6 products that comes from corn products which is happening so often now then what one sees is the long-chain detrimental Omega 6 fatty acids. So really the fish really are what they eat and we really are what we eat as well,” said Dr. Chilton, who headed the study. -- ###

“Age is an issue of mind over matter,” wrote American humorist Mark Twain.  “If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.”

But to women, age does matter.  While shopping, a little girl asked her mother, “How old are you?”  The mother replied, “My dear, women don’t talk about their age, you’ll learn later on in life.”

Hollywood film actress Lillian Gish complained, “You know, when I first went into the movies Lionel Barrymore played my grandfather.  Later he played my father and finally he played my husband.  If he had lived I’m sure I would have played his mother.  That’s the way it is in Hollywood.  The men get younger and the women get older.”

“We do not grow absolutely, chronologically,” said Anais Nin. “We grow sometimes in one dimension, and not in another; unevenly. We grow partially. We are relative. We are mature in one realm, childish in another. The past, present, and future mingle and pull us backward, forward, or fix us in the present. We are made up of layers, cells, constellations.”

“I want to be young forever,” a friend told me recently.  There’s a secret formula of staying forever, I told him.  “Really,” he inquired. “What’s that?”  Follow the footsteps of James Dean and Marilyn Monroe.  They die younger and both were forever young in the minds of people. 

“There is only one cure for gray hair,” commented P.G. Wodehouse.  “It was invented by a Frenchman.  It is called the guillotine.”

If you live longer, you cannot escape old age.  So, you better prepare for it.  Here are some great truths about growing old:  Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.  Forget the health food; you need all the preservatives you can get.  When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do while you’re down there.

You’re getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster.  It’s frustrating when you know all the answers but nobody bothers to ask you the questions.  Time may be a great healer, but it’s a lousy beautician.  Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.

More often than not, people hate talking about old age.  In fact, some of them fear it.  Philosopher Cicero gave some thoughts: “As I give thought to the matter, I find four causes for the apparent misery of old age: first, it withdraws us from active accomplishments; second, it renders the body less powerful; third, it deprives us of almost all forms of enjoyment; fourth, it stands not far from death.”

Old age should not be considered a liability but rather an asset.  Antoine de Saint-Exupery hailed, “A man’s age is something impressive, it sums up his life:  maturity reached slowly and against many obstacles, illnesses cured, griefs and despairs overcome, and unconscious risks taken; maturity formed through so many desires, hopes, regrets, forgotten things, loves.  A man’s age represents a fine cargo of experiences and memories.”

“Grow old with me!” urged Robert Browning.  “The best is yet to be.” Yes, even if you are old already, you can still “stay young,” according to George Carlin.   The late irreverent comedian, who died at the age of 71, listed ten ways:

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay “them.”

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3 Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle.    “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop,” someone once said.  And the devil’s name is Alzheimer’s disease.

4. Enjoy the simple things. 

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on.   Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it’s family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don’t take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

Stephen Ruppenthal reminds, “No matter what your age, you can stay creative and change the lives of people for the better. The longer you live, the more people will benefit from your life – and your happiness will grow exponentially.”

“And in the end,” American president Abraham Lincoln said, “it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.”

For comments, write me at henrytacio@gmail.com

So, because of these beliefs, we do not formulate our own opinions on things that are in the Word; we simply look at what the Word says and attempt to abide by its instructions to the best of our understanding/ability.  This may sound like a difficult or restricted way of life, but it is actually quite easy and freeing.  It drastically reduces the number of arguments and the amount of confusion in our lives, because everything is already laid out clearly for us to follow.

Here are a few examples:

• Money: The Word of God instructs us to give 10% of our income back to God (through the church where we are members) and give offerings on top of that (Malachi 3).  It also instructs us to be generous at all times and give to others liberally.  If we do all of these things cheerfully and consistently we will be well provided for.  We don't get to have an opinion about it, we just do it.  So when we put together our family budget, tithes, offerings, and acts of kindness to others were required line items.  We didn't have to fight over that.  Whenever we get some unexpected extra income (which is often, because of our obedience), we look to increase the amounts we're giving out in those areas.  It works.  God's happy, we're happy, and the friends and strangers we get to bless are happy.
• In-laws:  When the Word talks about marriage it says that a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife.  In other words, he will separate himself from his parents in order to bond and become one with his wife.  Depending on the people involved, the separation may need to be more drastic in some situations than others, but the point is that the husband and wife become an inseparable team -- they must make decisions together and steer the course of their life together without interference from others.  Respectful advice/guidance is of course fine, but the in-laws' feelings/wishes should not be allowed to trump the spouse's.  (That's enough to convert some folks to Christianity right there!)
• Health: The Word of God says that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, meaning His spirit comes to dwell in us when we receive Yahshua as our salvation.  He wants us healthy and strong so He can use us to help others.  That means we have to do our best to take care of ourselves, not eating or drinking excessively, smoking, doing drugs, etc. etc.

It's also worth noting that when something comes up where we're not really sure what the Word says, God still gives us the answer when we pray about it -- either through our Pastors, other members of church, friends/family, etc.  So we are open to learning from anyone, young or old, Christian or not, we just evaluate the information in light of the Word rather than our own opinions.  We know God is smarter than us and we have no problem admitting it!

I had my brain mri this morning, bright and early. And yes, I know it's not 2:40 my time and I'm just posting about the experience - but I was able to come home with a neato CD of the films, and so I've been having fun looking at my brain (as if I have any idea what I'm look for other than the structures I remember from basic anatomy). It's really cool having it on CD because I can use my scroll mouse to flip through the film like they do on the doc shows. It's wicked awesome.

Anyway, my doc said he'd call me when he got the report and reviewed it. I'm sure it will ok. They always are. Although, something has to be going on with this numbness and junk for the past year. Give me a break!

I'm gonna post a few of the pics (other than the one I lead in with)- and hey, if any of you are docs or radiologists, or have any vague sense of what is happening in the shots, throw me a comment. All I do know for sure is on the shots after she used the contrast, I believe, my brain is lit up like a xmas tree. You'll see what I mean. It's bright in there - someone was throwing a party. lol

I'll post some more if I find any interesting or amusing shots. It's like anatomy lesson with Endochick. :-) For right now, I'm still loopy on lorazepam and will continue to amuse myself with my own images of my own brain. Fascinating, I know. I can't do anything else. I have about zero concentration till this junk wears off. I'm surprised I made it through this blog.

"Everyone Knows Someone Who Needs This Information!" (TM)

Earlier this year, under continued pressure from health professionals and scientist researchers, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) came out with new guidelines for eating, especially for Seniors aged 70 or beyond, but fully useful for those over 50 years old to lead into healthier decades ahead, in the scientists' and dieticians' opinion.  Even if you are not at this age, you have loved ones who are, and who may not be computer-savvy, so please pass this information along! (Double-click on the graphics to enlarge them.)

In light of the new science behind targeted individualization of dietary needs, as expressed in my recent post and response at: http://diabetesdietdialogue.wordpress.com/2008/07/15/coming-home-to-a-real-inspirational-life-journey-from-the-heaviest-person-in-the-world/ it becomes problematical to give "General Guidelines" like any Food Pyramid does, without further tutelage, as I try to do on my Diabetes Diet Plan, but this new USDA Senior Food Pyramid attempt is much better than their previous information --- and here's why!

Seniors cannot use the general, all-purpose USDA Food Pyramid. It is inappropriate for them due to:

___   Seniors' ability to digest their food often lessens and changes over time, with implications for their continued good Health due to malabsorption or too little appetite and thirst signals.

___   In these decades, many people live alone with increasing financial needs to stretch their money.  

___   Often, people at this stage of life are dependent on others to help them drive and shop at the market and may need food supplies earlier than someone will help them. Also, the weather or other reasons, including personal strength and mobility, stops them from being able to do these jobs whenever they want or need to.

___   They may need simple foods that require little preparation if no-one can help them in the kitchen.

So, the Senior Food Pyramid attends to these needs by:

___   Giving options for multiple ways to store and use foods e.g. fresh vegetables or fruit and frozen vegetables or fruit; both count equally for these purposes. I still would not recommend canned!

___   Paying attention to getting nutrient dense foods into their diet so that people with small appetites will not be as likely to be undernourished.

___   Teaching Seniors that as their bodies change, they must relate to hunger and thirst differently. They are NOT getting the same signals, and so must critically understand how much of which kinds of foods will help them be nourished and must drink mechanically, by amount and by the clock, as most seniors become very dehydrated due to impaired signals.

___   Showing seniors some of the supplements they need to help digestion and to compensate somewhat for lack of exposure to sufficient sunshine all year. Finally acknowledging that Seniors DO need supplements is a big deal (but they must be in the forms seniors can digest --- many pills are impossible for them to utilize; not enough detail on the Pyramid for that fact, unfortunately).

 ___   Encouraging Seniors that it is imperative to stay active, and giving physical activity and water the 2 most important parts of the Pyramid --- the vital Foundation section. Another Pyramid for all ages was also suggested by Dr. Walter Willett, PhD of Harvard's School of Public Health; in 2001, he shows a Pyramid that encapsulates many changes that USDA still needs to use!  I think Dr. Willett would object to this USDA new Pyramid has such small emphasis and positioning for healthy fats, and still way too much emphasis on dairy and grains. See more of Willett's Pyramid by clicking on the interactive graphic at: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2001-07-26-food-pyramid-usat.htm and in the original, easier-to-see, larger-scale graphic of the Tufts University's version of the Senior Pyramid, (differently presented than the one I chose at the top of the page here). The Tufts graphic especially shows active pursuits that are enabling. See: http://nutrition.tufts.edu/1197972031385/Nutrition-Page-nl2w_1198058402614.html

___   Providing simple ways and food-stuffs to make meals.

BUT, I personally think that there's still lots of room for improvement in making further adjustments to the Senior's Food Pyramid, however, it has been worthwhile to alert the general public and to give them the computer program access to track progress.

For those of you who want to help the Elders in your circle of friends and family, many of whom may not be computer-savvy or have ready-access to a computer, then spend time with them to get their weight, height and personal activity level, so you can plug that information into USDA's computer program to then print-out a Personalized Diet Plan based on the Senior USDA Food Pyramid. Notice, that there are also worksheet pages, so your Senior can start keeping a Food Journal, to help everyone understand how things are going.

Access all of this at:

http://www.mypyramid.gov/mypyramid/index.aspx
www.mypyramid.gov/
www.mypyramidtracker.gov/

There's lots you and they can learn there, but DO realize that USDA is definitely prejudiced! For example, there is too much emphasis on dairy, period, and there is not one source for calcium mentioned that is not dairy related!

USDA and Big Agribusiness are definitely bed-fellows and this Pyramid reflects too traditional foods with few or no alternative views' choices mentioned!

I also think this Pyramid allows far too many acidifying grains and not enough Healthy Oils (EssentialFatty Acids like Omega-3) or enough fresh food, especially vegetables. Additionally, except in winter, I would not encourage packaged or canned food at all, and even then they should only be for an emergency stash. These Big Business products are not healthy. Get cook books that encourage simple preparation of fresh foods, and help your Seniors make new recipes that are healthy and possible for them to fix themselves, as much as you can.

I was surprised to see my 85 year old Mum's calorie requirements not any different than my own, (and she is not overweight by much --- maybe 10 pounds), but due to tremendous hip pain, she is very sedentary. As she hardly has any appetite or thirst, I am shocked to see that, somehow, I have to intensify what I manage to get her to eat to the degree I must. I am going to continue to make sure that she has many smaller meals of nutrient-dense, interesting food, as much as I can.

She has a very tiny appetite, and up until now, I have aceded to her wishes for small portions most times, as I do not want her to gain weight that will worsen her hip situation and cause her to lose more mobility.

Frankly, I think we will be continuing to spend more money on very easily-assimilated  supplements, (especially Vitamin B12, Calcium citrate or ascorbate, natural Vitamin D and some digestive enzymes or Bromelain, some Magnesium citrate and Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids from hemp oil [none of these last 4 are on the Pyramid] as the minimum) to provide a better safety-net for her.

I will also continue to buy Organic foods as much as our budget allows, as in Organic foods, nutrition is doubled, for less than double the price (this is important for a senior's small appetite!).

Meanwhile, please do watch out for your Elders. Their quality of Life depends on being Healthy. Anything you can do in this regard will be a good deed. One day, hopefully, others will do this for you, too.

Best to all --- Em

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