Gave into Stress

Friday, April 06, 2012

Still fighting off the cold. Did not feel up to going to the gym yesterday.

The plan after work was to meet a mason at my mother's house to get an estimate to fix her brick stairs. Then take Mom to dinner and to the store for some groceries.

The mason was on time. Yah! and gave us a reasonable quote. I checked out his insurance and he will be able to do the job starting on Monday. Yah! Happy Day!

Took Mom to dinner. All during dinner she complained about one of her caregivers. This women means well and is a hardworker but I think she oversteps her bounds a bit. In her defense, she often times asks my mother if it's okay if she does.....X.. and my mother doesn't respond. I told my mother that she should have said Yes I do mind instead of holding it in. Anyway, it was more of this throughout the dinner, ending with the usual "I'm going to jump off a bridge." I don't even respond to that anymore I've heard it so much.

After listening to this complaining throughout the whole meal I asked her if she complains like this to my brother and of course the answer was "No." I told her to give me a break and complain to him next time and save the happy talk for me.

Then on to grocery shopping. Bad thing at night for someone with dementia plus there was a full moon. I tried to hurry her along getting things on her list, crossing them off, telling her what we had left to get but it was a slow painful pace.

Finally we finished up and got back to her house. Her caregiver was waiting for us. This one is a nice younger woman. She helped get the groceries put away and offered to help my mother with her Easter cooking today. My mother is making eggplant Parm. I'm not sure why she said that she would make it since she's been stressing about it since. I told her that she doesn't have to make it but I think because my cousin (her favorite nephew) said he only eats her eggplant that she is driven.

Finally got home around 8:45pm after leaving the house at 7am yesterday. Brought my things in and grabbed a diet pepsi from the fridge, thus ending my 5 days streak of no soda. Starting over today...........

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

SIMPLELIFE4REAL 4/8/2012 6:17PM

I so Hear YOU when it comes to stress and dealing with moms. My 88 year old mom can just drive me up the wall in about 60 seconds. I spent all day with her yesterday and came home and gobbled down a piece of fried chicken, skin and all. Normally, I would at least pull of the skin. Oh well..... Today, we get to start over again. Report Inappropriate Comment

JAZZMINE 4/8/2012 9:19AM

Dealing with aging parents can be difficult. Just don't take her negative comments personally! Report Inappropriate Comment

REJOHNSON3 4/8/2012 6:04AM

Good morning and Happy Easter! Were you a Girl Scout? You seem to have all the qualities of an active good Girl Scout. You good patience is needed and given freely. Report Inappropriate Comment

JANTWO 4/8/2012 12:29AM

Report Inappropriate Comment

GERMANIRISHGIRL 4/7/2012 8:57AM

Report Inappropriate Comment

WENDYSPARKS 4/7/2012 7:27AM

Hope you start to feel better soon!! Wendy Report Inappropriate Comment

KELLEEH 4/6/2012 8:37PM

Wow, what a stressful day. It's amazing everything that you can get accomplished. I think going 5 days without a diet soda is absolutely wonderful, and I know you can do it again. Are you using SparkStreaks to track this goal? Report Inappropriate Comment

DARINGR8LY 4/6/2012 7:56PM

I think you are amazing with all you do for your mom. Try to release the stress from each visit by maybe planning ahead a good-for-you treat? Such as a new book, a huge warm hug from hubby, possibly a new video (don't want to stretch this idea out too far), or even just a bubble bath. With this treat to look forward to it may help lessen the frustration you have at the time. Report Inappropriate Comment

CANDOK1260 4/6/2012 3:01PM

okay my mom don;t have dementia but she doew have manic depression tendency/ Som I kind of understand your problem. just know i love you and i am givimng you a . Report Inappropriate Comment

LASARRE 4/6/2012 1:21PM

You only cheated with diet soda. Could have been a lot worse. I am having issues with my mother's dementia too. It's getting worse now that she just basically sits at the house. She thinks she still sees patients all day, but she doesn't. It's hard Report Inappropriate Comment

COMPUCATHY 4/6/2012 12:53PM

You know what...I think it's AWESOME that your "cheat" was a Diet Pepsi...no calories...great way to give in. Hang in there, sweetie. You are doing great. Taking care of mom is really hard. You are doing WONDERFUL. I've been there. Keep up the good work! I'm SO impressed with your cheat. That's awesome. Spark on! Report Inappropriate Comment

ANJAYS-JOURNEY 4/6/2012 11:40AM

Don't feel bad you are doning amazing, my mum has alzhemiers dementia, and sometimes i feel bad as I am in Canada and she is Scotland, we just have to focus on the now!! hugs Report Inappropriate Comment

Accountability Blog #14

Tuesday, April 03, 2012

April has started out on a good foot for me.

I set my goals and am doing well. My goals are:

1. Stay within calorie range every day.
I have not been perfect on this one but have been close. I had a differential 2 of the 3 days in April.

2. Strength training 3x week.
Still working my ST, although since I came down with this cold I developed a pain in my leg (no doubt from my back issues due to no exercise) sooooooooo I have only done upper body lately.


3. Cardio 45 minutes a day 5x week.
Only did 15 minutes of cardio yesterday due to my cold. I think I am over the worse of it now and hope that I can get 45 minutes in at the gym tomorrow.

4. Cut out diet soda. drumroll please
I have been soda free for 3 days now. I won't say it's been easy, because it hasn't especially today. I think it was more of a behavior trigger than a food trigger. I didn't cave so there!

I'm loving this blogging because it keeps me focused.

Are you focused??

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

LASARRE 4/6/2012 1:18PM

Great job! Report Inappropriate Comment

DARINGR8LY 4/5/2012 11:14PM

I was just thinking the other day my obsession with soda was more of a behavior thing than a food trigger. I can't fathom you doing anything but great with your goals. Keep going! Comment edited on: 4/5/2012 11:15:31 PM Report Inappropriate Comment

SIMPLELIFE4REAL 4/3/2012 8:42PM

That's particularly awesome about the soda....you are right that blogging helps a lot with focus. Report Inappropriate Comment

April Goals

Sunday, April 01, 2012

I can't believe that another month has passed. Wow! I guess it's true that time goes by faster as you get older.

I am keeping with my goals that I've had the last couple of weeks and adding one more.

1. Stay within calorie range every day.

2. Strength training 3x week.

3. Cardio 45 minutes a day 5x week.

4. Cut out diet soda. This is going to be difficult until I find something else to drink. I drink a lot of water now and am going to experiment with mixing water and juice to reduce the sugar/calorie bump.

I have been doing well with #1 and 2 since I refocused mid-March. I know that I can do well with #3 and 4 too!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

DARINGR8LY 4/2/2012 11:34PM

I will be working on #4 with you. Let's both do well and NOT drink soda. Comment edited on: 4/2/2012 11:35:13 PM Report Inappropriate Comment

FITNESSMONSTER8 4/2/2012 7:51PM

Great goals! Report Inappropriate Comment

GERMANIRISHGIRL 4/2/2012 4:38PM

Report Inappropriate Comment

JANTWO 4/2/2012 1:16AM

Report Inappropriate Comment

LASARRE 4/1/2012 8:45PM

Great goals. Wii can do this together Report Inappropriate Comment

VADAVICTORIA 4/1/2012 6:01PM

Time flies when you're having fun. Hope April brings you fitness and success! Report Inappropriate Comment

Is Diet Soda Making Us Fat?

Saturday, March 31, 2012

To Soda or Not to Soda?? Is Diet Soda Making Us Fat?

I started drinking soda when I was a teenager. There was not diet soda then. I’m not sure when it was “invented” but sometime in the 70s-80s I guess. Anyway, like many other Americans I figured that I was saving some calories with the diet soda.
I have switched over to caffeine free soda many years back as I was having sleep issues.

Since I have gotten healthy, since I have been a SP member, I have tried a few times, unsuccessfully to kick the habit. I know it’s not good for you. I know that it (aspartame) can cause memory loss. The soda itself can eat away at your bones (did you know that they use this stuff to remove gunk on your car battery terminals?) Yuk! Today I read that it can also lead to some types of cancer. How scary! Originally it was approved by the FDA as a drug, now it’s in soda. WTH???

For those that have followed my journey on SP, remember my blog lamenting over my big belly? It turns out that the diet soda may be causing it.

Some Info I found online:
Diet soda drinkers have a 70% greater increase in waist circumference than those that didn’t drink soda.
Those who drank 2 diet sodas or more a day had waist circumference increase of 500%.
You may be messing up your body’s system because when it senses something sweet it expects high calories and if it gets the sweetness without the calories, it can throw off the system.
It may make your crave more and burn fewer calories than normal.
Adults who drank 1 or more diet soda a day have 50% higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome than those that didn’t.

Today I told myself that I’ve got to get off the stuff. I can’t go cold turkey so I figured that I’d wean myself off of it. Only having one can a day and then every other day, etc., then none.

I also have to figure out what I am going to drink instead. I already drink LOTS of water, so I’m thinking that maybe I’ll have some juice once or twice a day, perhaps watered down and see how it goes.

I will be curious to see if there’s a difference in my waist size/look after a few weeks off of it.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

KELLEEH 4/6/2012 8:31PM

I drink a diet soda every day, which I know is not good for me. I think it is GREAT that you are trying to kick this habit! Dr Oz discussed this on his show recently. He said that the artificial sweetener in diet soda does not cause memory loss, but he did agree that it adds the pounds on and is generally unhealthy. He suggested mixing the diet soda with seltzer water as a way to start to cut down. Anyway, best of luck to you! I think it is great that you continue to find ways to be healthy! Report Inappropriate Comment

SIMPLELIFE4REAL 4/1/2012 8:57PM

Interesting facts! I don't drink much soda, but this will make me want to drink even less. Report Inappropriate Comment

GERMANIRISHGIRL 4/1/2012 11:10AM

Years ago I used to drink Pepsi/Coke. Then switched to diet. When I joined SP I gave up the diet. I drank carbonated water for awhile. Then switched to water. So glad I did...don't miss the pop at all now. Report Inappropriate Comment

LASARRE 4/1/2012 11:04AM

I used to drink a lot of diet soda. Then when I got the ulcerative colitis, I couldn't take the carbonation. I quit after drinking diet soda for over 20 years. I really don't miss it. We know drink diet Ginseng Iced Tea or water. That was the same year I quit smoking. Now, if I could quit restaurants, I'd have a 3 fer :) Report Inappropriate Comment

REJOHNSON3 4/1/2012 9:38AM

I never got caught up in the soda but I did drink Polar Seltzer Lime drink and now I don't even drink that. I also consumed too much beer and that is all behind me. I have a wine most every evening. I do drink at least 8 8-ounce glasses of water each day.. My waist has gone down from a 44 to a 38 - so between the exercise and the life-style change I have seen and experienced many improvements in my health. So you should see some changes too. Congratulations to you for all of your efforts you are taking to become more healthy. Report Inappropriate Comment

ROCKMAN6797 4/1/2012 8:14AM

I was addicted to diet soda before starting this journey. In fact I would normally drink up to 2 liters per day (and often times more!). Like you, I thought that was the one thing that I was trying to do "right." In December 2009 I made the decision to stop drinking diet soda and, except, for the one or two mixed drinks I have had, have not drank any! This was one of my best decisions ever! I now drink mostly water. If I feel the need for something sweet I will add a flavor packet into my glass of water. Besides the ill benefits received from diet soda, I also keep in mind the tremendous positive benefits of drinking water. It helps in losing weight, definitely re-hydrates your skin (my wife will attest to this as she always comments that my skin feels smooth!), helps in digestion, and reduces the risk of both bladder and colon cancer. You have accomplished one-half of this battle, and I know that you can achieve the other half! Report Inappropriate Comment

ODAYSKI11 4/1/2012 8:01AM

Good luck on this, I know it's not easy. I could never stand the taste of the diet stuff, so I ended up having to just kick the regular soda habit. It took a long time (from 6 cans a day as a teen to 1-2 a day as an adult.) I guess I may have had 2 soda's in the past year, except for a Zevia now and then (2-4 per month - I feel better about those, made with Stevia). Report Inappropriate Comment

JANTWO 4/1/2012 1:37AM

I hear you. I drink it too and have tried to quit. I hope you are successful!!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

ANJAYS-JOURNEY 3/31/2012 7:35PM

I have never had diet soda and don't like pop, so no hints here sorry!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

LADYJAKE1 3/31/2012 7:19PM

I am so addicted to diet coke....I am not ready to give it up at this time. Maybe one day. Report Inappropriate Comment

GOLFCHICK2-0 3/31/2012 6:47PM

I've been off soda, regular or diet, for about a year and a half. It has completely changed my eating habits. I no longer eat any foods with fake sugars (no matter how "natural" they say they are). I drink more water, I drink less alcohal, I crave less sweets, I eat more REAL food. No more migrains, very few tummy aches and WAY less bloating (PMS is not the problem as I had a hysterectomy 8 years ago) Give it at least a month. I hope it works as well for you as it did for me!! Report Inappropriate Comment

A Fishy Story

Friday, March 30, 2012

I do not like fish but I like seafood. My DH tells me that I like the strangest types of seafood: sardines and clams. I agree. Many people that like common types of fish like cod and haddock don't love sardines and clams. Guess they are a throwback to my Dad, who liked most everything.

As I have been trying to eat healthier food, I have been trying to eat more fish. At least one serving a week or even....drum roll... the two recommended per week. I did not list that as a goal because I wasn't sure that I could do it...... REALLY? or was it because if I wrote it down I would have to do it?? Not sure. I think a little bit of both.

DH suggested that one serving could be canned tuna in a sandwich or salad and then the other ... well...... what?? May I mention that my DH fish. All kinds. He's "friends" with the sushi man at our local grocery store. The sushi man actually makes DH's sushi fresh for the "good customer."

Anyway, tonight I made a dish that I described as palatable/okay (because it was, afterall, fish). Hubby described it as good. Light and zesty.

The recipe had three components: Sautéed Fish Sticks, Dill Potato "Chips" (baked in the oven), and Mustard Slaw. The recipe was from the Clean Eating magazine.
I've made several of the recipes in this magazine and they are all good.

The down side of this one was that because of the three components there were lots of dishes and pans to clean up. We have a rule that the chef does NOT do the dishes so DH is out in the kitchen cleaning as I type.

Here's a photo of this dish.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

SIMPLELIFE4REAL 3/31/2012 3:40AM

That's great to try new things. I love sardines....but I forget about them since my husband won't eat them. Thanks for the reminder! Report Inappropriate Comment

VICD25 3/30/2012 10:13PM

sounds interesting... we eat fish 2-3 times a week, especially in the summer when DH catches fresh rainbow or brown trout. I am closer to your DH attitude toward fish, so I won't push it on you, but one of the best ways to cook fish is on the gas grill. then there are no lingering fish smells in the house! we wrap a whole trout (gutted by DH, of course) in foil, cook 3min per side on the grill and the fish falls off the bone and skin. as for tuna... as a sushi eater, I cannot believe the stuff in a can is the same as the tuna I eat on my rainbow roll! good luck with your objective! Comment edited on: 3/30/2012 10:14:09 PM Report Inappropriate Comment