health and well being – Page 2

This, that, and something that might piss you off

Two weeks into our new fitness regimen – so far Mike has lost 15 lbs!! Me- just 3. The skinny on Nutrisystem – it works… if you strictly follow their plan. The food doesn’t taste bad and you don’t feel deprived, (heck …some of their “snacks” are a chocolate cupcake, a soft pretzel!)…. you do add small quantities of fresh fruit and veggies , but I don’t like the processed food idea. What the plan teaches is what we all really know already, portion control and calorie intake.

We’ve learned we need to eat about a third of what we were consuming to lose and then maintain a healthy body weight. We are both working out cardio and light weights daily, and when I really don’t want to be in the gym I at least take the dogs for a hike up and down hills at a good pace at the back of our farm. Keep moving! The other key is water water water. I have fibromyalgia (chronic muscle soreness and stiff) and have discovered that pushing myself to work out even though I’m sore is helping me feel stronger, not weaker. Sleep is improved too when you make yourself work out daily. It’s frustrating that men lose the weight so much quicker than us women, though. Seriously… WTF.

Here’s a detox drink someone shared on FB, gonna give it a go. Anyone try it?

Stella’s interior renovation continues…

Stackable washer dryer unit closet where there used to be a small coat closet. One of only two closets in all of Stellas makeup. Stella isn’t big enough to house Melania’s shoes, so we will need to be sparing with what we will bring for summer stays.

The 2nd bedroom has been bead boarded – because bead board doesn’t have the integrity of wainscote we will paint it, mostly likely an ivory white.

The ceiling will remain as is, with a clear coat of something to bring out the wood grain. It had a low hanging ceiling that we ripped out to give a feel of more space.

Yesterday we had 55 degree temps and the sunshine on the water twinkled like diamonds….

This book was recommended to me… to help understand the mentality behind what just happened in our political environment. Any reviews?…….

Finally, the part that might piss you off. I’m hoping you just get a chuckle out of it. Several people have asked me where I got the nickname for the President-Elect – “Orange Scream”. ……………

*sigh

Till soon, friends….

Stella’s Christmas, NutriSomething and a huge thanks to you

Needless to say we’re all pretty excited about Stella and the good times we will share there. One of the reasons we decided on a little place not far from home is the entire family can enjoy it frequently without the hassle (and worry) of significant travel. Because we’re in the field of work that overhaul and maintenance requires, the renovation and upkeep were doable with our own crew. Big Plus. When we contemplated a home on the Vineyard or Vermont, two things deterred us. 1. The cost of housing there is outrageous now and 2. we would have to hire out the work to people we don’t know and repairs of any sort would also be done by people we don’t know. Having Stella so close by keeps all that in M’s control.

The kids were extremely thoughtful with their gifts to us this Christmas. With Stella in mind, the following were “under our tree”…

My son worked with our stone guru to create this fire pit on the edge of the blue stone patio – it is a free form creation complete with quartz – the stone mostly collected here on the farm. “S” has a way of laying stone so that without the encumbrance of mortar these stones will stand the test of time placed on their own. The remaining stone he didn’t use still needs to be removed and I will lay a garden around the base, but the form is clear in these pictures. Yesterday we saw the finished work and absolutely love it. Thank you M junior for such a thoughtful gift we will all enjoy for many years to come. Our friend S did most of the stone walls here on the farm over the past seven years and the foundation and porch here at This Old House – This man has overcome some major struggles in his life, most recently a significant bout with Lyme Disease. His work takes a great deal of physical strength and he is quite gifted with stone…. I am so thrilled that Stella will have some of his work in her little yard an that he is regaining his health through really hard work and determination.

PS.. Did I mention a Priest lives in the next yard over? I told my husband we’re gonna need to clean up our language when sitting on the deck, as he’s definitely within earshot. Funny thing is… when M finally had a conversation with him, during the course of that conversation his response to a question was something like “Oh, you don’t need to worry about that shit”. LOL. I feel so much better now. We’ll get along just fine.

My daughter also gifted us with some beautiful things for Stella – this is a wind chime she found on Etsy – made from recycled materials – including old spoons! Love it… I’m told the sound is a very soft soothing tinkling…

A beautiful shell wreath too…

I found a re-worked dresser at another thrift store called The Picking Pot.

Very sturdy and the soft ivory color falls right in line with the light neutral hues

I want to adorn the cottage with. Stella is so small there will only be room

for a bed and dresser in each of the two bedrooms. I’m still looking for

one more dresser and a queen bed frame. I’m taking the advice to not buy crap

I won’t be happy with down the line – so far I have managed to find thrift store

pieces I love.

The Mr. and I have started the Nutrisystem program as of yesterday. While I’m not thrilled with the idea of the processed food that was delivered a few days back, so far it doesn’t taste bad and seems like it will be manageable. Adding fresh veggies and fruits is recommended as well. I plan to stay on it for one to two months, as I’m just looking for a weight loss jump start. My goal is to lose 15 pounds, and with the success I’ve heard about on this program, if I can just stick with it, it should get me to my goal. Then I need to stay with the portion sizes and calorie intake this program teaches, and maintain the weight loss. The Mr. wants to stay on it a little longer as he has bigger weight loss goals. What I have already learned in two days is PORTION CONTROL.. and water intake.. are very important for any kind of weight loss. We love food and we don’t drink much or smoke at all, so food has been our vice over the years.

That’s lunch. See what I mean? PORTIONS. Holy cow, we’ve been going overboard by about 1000 percent.

I’d like to thank each of you who comes here and converses in the comments section from time to time. Our shared experiences and advice is cherished. Some of you have been visiting this space for over six years and you’ve become dear friends. FB helps us keep in touch even more (one of the actual GOOD things about social media, and yes there are some redeeming qualities to it) and I’m glad to have come to know you.

Happy, Healthy 2017 to All – may we find peace of mind and strength in unity.

Love, Karen

Fibromyalgia

I’ve always been a pretty active person, and shoveling shit, hauling water buckets and chucking hay bales has been part of my repertoire for over 30 years. So… some muscle ache and pain is to be expected, right? But lately, my 51 year old self has been in chronic pain.. everywhere. Every muscle is sore and stiff, especially the bigger ones – the traps, the lats, arms, the glutes, the calves, thigh muscles.. everything.
A visit to my GP and a lot of bloodwork, twice, revealed all looks good there. An Xray shows stable degeneration in the arthritic neck, but nothing horrible. Off to the rheumatologist I went for further examination and she concluded I am a classic case of fibromyalgia.
Because I am on meds for high blood pressure and I truly hate being on meds of any kind, I am not going to add pills to this regimen as I am sensitive to just about every med there is anyway. I am looking for organic ways to improve this fibro pain, and so far what I come up with is mild exercise and good sleep. (ha!) It’s hard to exercise when every muscle in your body says OUCH with every step. But, I will do it. Sleep comes easy but STAYING asleep does not. Not sure how I’m going to work on that. Another pill was recommended. *sigh I hate that cycle.
So, if any of you has experience with this ghost disease, would you be willing to share your coping methods/remedies? I’m all ears (and muscle pain).

Glutened

I’ve been wrestling with the same issue for years now. My will power, or more accurately the lack thereof… is pathetic. Having led a fairly healthy lifestyle for my entire life, i.e. no smoking and not much drinking, moderate exercise but perhaps not enough of it, you’d think it would be no big deal. Plenty of fruits and vegetables but also some of the crap, like chips and donuts and cakes and cookies and CHOCOLATE.

What I discovered a few years back, while dealing with chronic IBS type symptoms and bloat and headaches and muscle ache and anxiety and hypertension……… after doctor visits and naturopath visits and natural supplements and physical therapy and finally diet change…. was that the only thing that had a real effect.. was the diet change. I went gluten free and dairy free for the heck of it, cut out most sugar but not all, stopped eating processed foods for the most part… and within months MOST of my symptoms were gone or minimized greatly, plus.. I lost the extra 15 lbs I was lugging around. My blood pressure also dropped, a good thing, since I have hypertension.

Fast forward to today … I got lazy. I fell off the gluten free dairy free less-sugar diet. I do physical labor every day with the horses and farm work, etc. I still eat far less gluten, but I picked up the dairy again and occasionally snuck a little bit of a gluteny thing. I slacked some on the exercise and yoga. I gained back 20 LBS, not 15… and yesterday I picked up donuts from a new source that has THE BEST F_ING DONUTS YOU HAVE EVER DEVOURED…. and I caved and ate a few. *ahem. Then last night the guy and I went out.. and instead of ordering the salmon for dinner, I ordered a Reuben, because hell, already ruined it with the donuts, might as well go for the gold and get back to dieting tomorrow, right.

Well, tomorrow is today.. and I have such a gluten hangover from all that crap. I feel fatigued, anxious, like I’m coming down with the flu, my stomach hurts, my head is foggy, my muscles are sore. And yet some doctors still don’t believe that there is such thing as gluten sensitivity if you’re not a Celiac, which I am not.

What’s frustrating is that I KNOW what works, and yet PIZZA.

If you have struggled with any of the same issues, or conquered your bad eating choices and mastered better health, tell me how you did it, I really want to know.

The “C” word

So many people dread the idea – because it’s my generations time, I hear it so often. –OMG- I’m going to be 50. Holy crow, we’re FIFTY! HOW DID WE GET THIS OLD??…

I really and truly look at it as a blessing. So many people don’t get the opportunity. I can honestly tell you the only thing I have dreaded about becoming fifty years old was those heinous words I knew I would hear my GP utter as we wrapped up the 50 year physical…. “So the only other thing we should do is schedule a colonoscopy, a screening recommended to everyone 50 and older”. (gulp). And there it was.

Yes, I’ve been dreading the “C” word for many years… at least 20. I’m not exaggerating one little bit, either. I never thought… OMG, someday I’m gonna be 50!… no, I only thought… OMG someday I’m gonna be 50 and be told a colonoscopy is recommended because I’m 50! Now keep in mind, lest you think I’m nutz – As someone who has been a chronic worrier since the dawn of the ages, stress induced IBS has been a sometime companion throughout my adult life. Nothing drastic, just mild annoyances when major stresses… stressed. So the thought of someone looking up in there with a camera was terrifying… OMG, what would they see? It must be a mess in there!

And there’s all that embarrassment, or the idea of it, anyway.

If you’ve not gone through the ordeal already, I’m here to tell you… all those years of ridiculous worrying and the anxiety over the IDEA of a colonoscopy… were just a waste of precious time. Believe me when I tell you, it’s no big deal at all. NO BIG DEAL!!!!!!

The prep is better than it used to be, so I’m told. I had no problem drinking down the two 8 ounce glasses of salty lemony stuff. Holding your nose helps and drinking cold water immediately after too. The aftermath of drinking that stuff wasn’t horrible either. You just need to stay sorta near a bathroom for 24 hours. The hardest part for me was drinking only clear liquids or sucking on hard candies for that period of time, because this girl loves to eat.

The procedure itself – I have no knowledge of other than I changed into a gown, an IV was inserted, some pleasantries ensued… I was wheeled into a room with bright lights and friendly people who were joking about this and that and who’s going where on vacation and was a certain star related to me because we share the same name……………………………………….

And that was it.

I woke up and it was all over. The Dr. came in shortly thereafter and told me all was well. Yep… all those 20 or more years of anxiety over… nothing. The relief that comes with KNOWING there’s nothing is tremendous.

SO.. if you’re about that age and you’ve been putting it off, don’t. It’s nothing. And if they find something, those kinds of cancer are slow growing and the odds are you’ll be healed because you caught it early. It’s that simple.

Worry… it’s like a rocking chair. It will give you something to do, but it won’t get you anywhere.

Here we go again!

First, let me thank every one of you who responded to my “issues” post – one of the things that makes the difficult parts of life less -difficult- is sharing information, worries, dilemnas, etc with others, gaining valuable insight and knowing you’re not alone. I don’t blog as often as I used to because – life-, but I’m sure glad you still poke your head in here now and then. Here’s what I decided to do once I read all your comments and went to the Dr. with more questions.

I’ve started a new drug (a Beta Blocker) because what I’ve been taking just ain’t cutting it. Very low dose for now, we’ll see where that goes. I hate meds but I don’t have a choice right now while I tweak other things. I am drinking more water, I’m walking, I am making A BIG EFFORT to cut out dairy, gluten, sugar. I already know when I do that, (ain’t no easy feat)… I feel so much better. The weight comes off, the aches and pains are much less, the blood pressure comes down. I know some of you are already aware that when there is inflammation present in your body, dairy, sugar and gluten are inflammatory. So why dump it in your body to compound the issue, right? I am also going to stay with the therapeutic massage to my neck and shoulders – right now I’m going twice a week to get rid of the spasms, but I will stay on a maintenance plan from here on out – maybe once every three weeks. It’s something I have not done before because… I don’t like lying on that table or spending the money because insurance won’t cover it… but I like feeling awful and immobile even less… so it’s simple science, you know? AND… I won’t cut out my farm chores, but I’m changing the way I do them. Instead of tackling them with a vengeance, I’m mosying through my morning chores, sometimes taking a break to look at my phone, chat with others, etc. I’m actually sitting down for 10 minutes every day to stretch and just breathe in and breathe out, slowly, deeply.

So… where are we going?… to another Homeward Bound CT Adoption Event! For the next few days, myself and about 30 other people will be pretty busy helping dogs find homes – there will be smiles, laughs, tears even… and some exhausted people at the end of the weekend – but lets hope and pray and please send positive thoughts that our 50 dogs will find their homes by Sunday night – Hooray for the Underdog!….

A few more of our adoptable adorables….

Forgiving

One of the toughest things we are asked to do in this life is to “forgive”. It’s wonderful to hear stories of forgiveness, even of some of the most heinous crimes. We are so inspired by the people who have the grace to rise above the evil act to forge ahead without malice or ill will, but when it is asked of us individually, that row can be tough to hoe. Anger and blame are eager to keep a firm grip on our ability to do so…. and don’t ever underestimate it’s power to hold you back from living your best life. Did you know that many studies have shown that one of the keys to a long life and good health is a habit of gratitude and letting go of things that have hurt us instead of holding on to them?

I recently learned something about someone I love that initially really hurt me. Anger and blame… yep, my first reactions. But as I sat with myself and this roiling boil of anger, if I’m being honest I have to remember that the person in question is a good soul in so many ways. The issue itself was not an intentional wound inflicted on my being.. it was a typical thoughtless behavior when one is ‘caught up in the emotion of the moment’. And you know… sometimes you might have contributed to the reasons the offense happened in the first place. I’m not implying that’s always the case, but when it is…it’s hard to admit to oneself that it might be truth.

Then there is the judging which is ooh, so easy to do. Have I been a model human being every step of the past 49 years? Hell no. Have I hurt others, even if it was unintentional? Yep. Most of the time, every fiber of my being wants to avoid -hurting- anything… but somehow I have managed now and again. And there’s that feeling.. you probably know the one… of dragging around that weight of anger…. so damaging to your own self – it’s really just not worth it.

I’m getting better at this forgiveness thing as I get older. And part of that process is forgiving myself for not being 100 percent of what I WANT to be made of 100 percent of the time. We are human, we are imperfect, we all make mistakes. The key is to learn and grow from them. And to forgive when it’s possible, forget if you can… or at the very least.. acknowledge it, because you have to…. and then…. let it go.

One of my favorite places to escape to unwind and throw my wounds to the wind is the ocean.

I swear I was a mermaid in another life.

Just Do it

I’m a worrier. Always have been.. as it always shall be. Unless they come up with some miracle cure for worry, and then I’ll be first in line holding my hand extended out for that magic pill because oooh, wouldn’t it be nice not to worry. My 93 year old neighbor across the street told me the secret to longevity is to try not worry too much.. what will be.. will be. One foot in front of the other, take it as it comes, and don’t imagine what isn’t even there.

Sounds like a great plan!! Easier said than done, my friends.. easier said than done.

Some months back I went for my yearly mammogram and thankfully “all appears normal”. Then I got a notice in the mail from the radiology group that my boobs are “moderately dense”… and we’re not talking IQ here. Because of this fact, they now recommend a follow up ultrasound because it can detect things a mammo can’t. The notice said that it wasn’t an urgent matter, talk it over with my Dr. next time I had an appointment. So I did discuss it at my yearly ob-gyn exam. My Dr. just happened to be recovering from breast cancer which was detected by ultrasound, NOT the mammogram, which appeared normal. The same is true of my own mother, who is a breast cancer survivor of three years now. Given the family history, I was advised to get the ultrasound along with the mammogram.

*sigh*

Another test to agonize over and procrastinate on and kick about in my ever worrying mind. I finally got around to it, remembering the words of a dear blog friend, Vicky, who is battling Stage Four breast cancer with a dignity and grace, courage and strength that amazes me every step of her journey. She said.. I don’t think there are any regrets for tests taken… just regrets for tests -not- taken that could have prevented something worse.

With that in mind and my own mother’s experience, I finally made the appointment and had the ultrasound exam. I’m very relieved to report that all is well. The technician was a lovely woman who explained the importance of getting both screenings done because neither detects all cancers, but both together are an excellent tool for early detection.

So.. if you’re told you have dense breast tissue, get the ultrasound as well. So far, I believe statistics are that it’s only mandatory for the labs to notify you in 9 states. This year..Connecticut is among them. Ask for yourself if you’re not notified. Do I have dense breasts? Can I also get an ultrasound? ….

Ok, on to something more pleasant…

Here are some images from my late summer/early fall garden … the leaves are beginning to change.. sugar maples among my favorite and the first to turn….

Picking it up where you left it

I envy all you folks out there who manage to keep yourself on a consistent fitness schedule regardless of how busy your life might be. I am not one of those people. It might have something to do with the fact that for about an hour each day I am doing physical work outside with the horses, chickens, etc shoveling manure, lugging water buckets, hay, raking and sweeping the isle. Or it might be my tendency toward procrastination. I have learned not to beat myself up over the lapses in exercise. It is what it is… and what it ISN’T is an excuse to not pick it up again.

So if you find yourself stopping and going like me… don’t let that STOP you from GOING again. Pick it up when you can, and maybe even push yourself to do it. It’s important for our mental and physical health, all of us. For me, walking the dogs a few miles a day is what I stick with most successfully. Choose what you like to do and you’ll be more likely to make it a habit. I know I’ll never be a gym rat (not that there’s anything wrong with it) . The treadmills, stairmasters, elipticals, etc. resemble a hamster wheel to me. Walking outdoors keeps my mind busy and the view in front of me everchanging.

Yesterday I took Ben and Frasier for a walk in the woods and it sure felt good. Autumn is not yet here, but the crisp morning air and few scattered changing leaves tell us it’s just around the bend. I’m looking forward to it.

It’s a new day, all – pick it up again!

And don’t forget to drink plenty of water.

Heartworm Disease in Dogs.

When I adopted Frasier and had him thoroughly check out by my vet, it was discovered he had a good case of heartworm, which, if untreated, will eventually kill the dog. The worms suffocate the heart and lungs, etc. The treatment is expensive (about $700.) but necessary. And.. there is a three to five month – Keep the dog calm and quiet – period of time because the dying worms start traveling through their bloodstream and you don’t want them getting caught up in the heart, lungs, etc… causing paralysis or death. Ugh. THAT.. was no easy feat with Frasier.

So, Ben had a skin tag thing on his leg and I brought him to the vet to have it checked and removed earlier this week. While there he had his yearly heartworm and Lyme test. I got the call the next day – both came back positive. WHAT? I do give my dogs heartworm pills, but not during the winter months because mosquitos don’t live here in those seasons. Down south the problem is much more prevalent. This is where Frasier came from. SO… how did BEN get it?…. I freaked a little. Had all four dogs brought back and tested .. all are negative. After a second heartworm test in house on Ben, it was decided the first one was a false positive, especially since he has no evidence of heartworm disease. I’m glad he doesn’t have heartworm, kind of alarming that the first came back positive, falsely. He’s on Doxycycline for the Lyme disease, which is far too common in humans and animals in New England.

Lesson here – always ask for a second test with heartworm if you get a postive test result, because they can be inaccurate and the treatment is rough on the dog and costly. Also, don’t skimp on the monthly treatment… although here in the north where the winters are cold, it’s OK according to my vet to skip the very cold winter months. Not doing so puts you at risk for a costly and difficult treatment for your dog.