Meaty talk

Wednesday, May 08, 2013

Ha! Gotcha! You just HAD to see what I meant, huh? lol

I really don't like/enjoy eating meat.
The doc says that since I go low on protein (especially when I skip meat a lot) I should have it a few times a week. Well, the only way to like meat is to pile on the sauces and cover with fruits. But. Maybe. Just maybe... trying a different way of cooking MIGHT help? Yes, I love my pork tenderloin but oh yuh I cook it on a pile of cabbage, onions, apples, with lots of cinnamon and minced garlic... so the pork is sort of in there with the veggies even as the fork lifts off my plate. So that's not really 'liking' the meat; I just found a way to eat it by covering up the taste.

I don't get all excited by a plain slab of meat sitting on a plate. But forget the meat and fill that plate with steamed or sauteed veggies and I am so THERE. Well, if following the concept of savoring (mindful eating), I'd sort of like to get to a point where I could like the meat itself even if not just a little spot in the middle of veggies or sauces.

And that's where the meaty talk switches to... brining.

I saw something on tv briefly the other day; a recipe/preparation idea that sounds great!
Doing a brine for pork chops to retain moisture so that after cooking they are moist, 'fuller' and better in flavor.
Here's the recipe:
www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/grilled-
apple-brined-pork-chops-recipe/index.html
It sounds sensible but I've never done it and... WILL.
Anyone here do that? Not just turkeys, but... CHOPS. Little dudes of meat.

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When the plan must change for a while (or completely?)

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Sometimes the articles don't touch my problems.
Ok. Frequently, to be frank.
Take for example the one about five things that undermine motivation:
www.sparkpeople.com/resource/motivat
ion_articles.asp?id=1676
Nothing in it addresses my current issue.
I'm in pain, a flare that will not stop, just keeps worsening.
These facts led me to think about high hurdles that can be solid obstacles.

What do we do when issues like 'emotional eating' or 'finding motivation' would feel NICE compared to the obstacles before us? What do you do when the articles don't address your issues but you want to somehow keep going forward or at least tread in place rather than slip?

One thought: Focus on the mind. Everything does begin there, y'know.
Feed it healthy thoughts, give it positive input.
The mind needs to be nurtured when the body is out of sorts and we cannot follow the plan we know is right for us. Plan 'how to cope' just as you would plan 'how to balance nutrition'. With thought, with reality-checks about habits, likes, dislikes...and needs. Consider it an emergency lifestyle plan with healthy habits present where possible.

Some healthy habits are not possible when life issues get in the way.
So. Restructure to cope and adapt to changes whether temporary or permanent.
If you have trouble moving at all without pain, then skip the articles on ways to change-up exercise. If you have a bout of stomach problems and the doctor advises you skip fiber for a few weeks? Then skip the articles on healthy eating, too. For a while.

When life switches to abnormal, we need to deal with whatever wrench was tossed into the mechanism that motivates and keeps us on track for healthy lifestyle. And we must know that we make conscientious choices; when the going gets rought, it's just too easy to forget our plans, ditch our progress. So instead, I recommend remaining aware of what we do.

Part of a healthy journey is knowing when to ease up on change or habits... and knowing and how to do so without losing sight of the goals.

Creating healthy HABITS instead of merely 'doing what I should do' helps us all get back on track when a plan must downsize for a while.

And if there is an event that changes our ability to return to the original plan?
Would we give up? NO! Of course not; the goals we set are bound to encounter hurdles of all magnitures, so giving up just is not an option.
Perhaps the best approach is to regard the change as a challenge to greet and meet...optimistism propelling plans and actions in forward movement.

I've known people who absolutely personify that last statement.
They are the survivors.
The people who defeat the odds, the ones who come out of the dark fighting.
I'd like to think I could be among their numbers should necessity arise.
How about you?
---
post script; response to thriver over survivor by definition.
One does not 'survive' without fight. Survival against strong forces requires commitment and is not interchangeable for merely existing. It is thriving against all odds.

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Liver Health

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Looking good on the outside is nice, as long as that appearance is a reflection of good health on the stuff inside the shell. Many people obsess about things like makeup and trendy clothing, but they have habits that erode eternal health even though the outside shows no signs... for a while. The following list of "25 Ways to Love Your Liver" sets forth sensible ideas that work for overall health while protecting that vital organ, the liver. Here note that since many people die while waiting on the long lists of folks needed liver transplants, a little change in lifestyle here and there is truly worth the effort:


"1. Avoid taking unnecessary medications. Too many chemicals can harm the liver.

2. If you are a baby boomer, get tested for Hepatitis C today.

3. Don’t mix medications without the advice of a doctor.
Mixing medications could be poisonous to your liver.

4. Drink alcohol responsibly.

5. Never mix alcohol with other drugs and medications.

6. Be careful when using aerosol cleaners.
The liver has to detoxify what you breathe in.
Make sure the room is well ventilated or wear a mask.

7. Bug sprays, paint sprays and all those other
chemical sprays you use can cause harm as well.
Be careful what you breathe.

8. Get vaccinated for Hepatitis A and B and
make sure your children are vaccinated as well.

9. If you get a tattoo, make sure you only use single needles and ink pots.
No sharing!

10. Exercise regularly – walk a little further, climb the stairs.

11. Don’t share personal use items such as combs, razors, and manicure tools.

12. Teach your children what a syringe looks like and that they should leave it alone.

13. If you received a blood transfusion prior to 1992, you may have hepatitis C.
You should talk to your healthcare provider about getting tested.

14. Use caution and common sense regarding intimate contact –
hepatitis can be transmitted through blood.

15. Eat a well-balanced, nutritionally adequate diet.
If you enjoy foods from each of the food groups
you will probably obtain the nutrients you need.

16. Keep your weight close to ideal.
Medical research have established a direct correlation
between obesity and the development of fatty liver disease.

17. Do not smoke.

18. If you have any body piercing, check that the
instruments used are properly sterilized or used only once

19. Increase your intake of high-fiber foods such as fresh fruits and
vegetables, whole grain breads, rice and cereals.

20. At your annual physical, ask your doctor to do a complete liver blood analysis.

21. Take the right dosage of medication – too much can cause trouble.

22. Help someone else – sign an organ donor card.

23. See your doctor for regular check-ups and share
any information about health problems.

24. Make a contribution to the American Liver Foundation to
help further the work of the Foundation, including research.

25. Remember liver disease can happen to anyone – from infants to the elderly.
Do your part to stay healthy. "

SOURCE:
Liver Foundation site's article "25 Ways to Love Your Liver",
www.liverfoundation.org/aboutthelive
r/25ways/

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Appreciating the now... whatever it may be.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

As humans we generally want more than what we have: goals are healthy and good.

But what we must remember
- whether our goals are
tangible items, dream vacations,
weight loss, health or something else altogether -
is that we need to appreciate
what we have had in the past (without regret)
and what exists in our present.

Life is now, not waiting at some future date.
Which is of course why I always say:
ENJOY the journey.

Sometimes it's terribly difficult to think beyond the glaring problems,
but
it is necessary to remember that "Now" is too important to skip.

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Weight Change: The Inside Stuff Counts

Saturday, April 20, 2013

While I now think of the word 'diet' as 'nutrition plan', many 'diets' out there have little to do with balance. They still get recognition, people still opt for them because they want results and want them quickly.

Periodically we see articles rating 'diets'. (Here note, that finding support and/or 'diets' for those who need to gain weight is hard to do!) This morning I was looking at one such rating list and some of the attached links. Those rated most highly are sensible, balanced, focal-points heading right to good nutrition. health.usnews.com/best-diet As much as the lure of the quick-results claims may seem, the ultimate cost may be that temporary results have lasting affects on those trivial matters like heart-health and kidney function. So if the lure is worth it, sure: go for it. But I'm not going on that ride. The end of the ride just doesn't go to a place that suits my goal. Chemicals can destroy organs. Lack of protein or calcium or vitamins affect our health drastically.

Healthy goals are best reached by a healthy approach.

We occasionally need to tweak our plans to improve them. But sometimes the fact is that we frequently see no visible, discernable progress despite doing the best we can do.

This is when we need to enjoy the Inside Stuff - just knowing it IS the best, we ARE following sensible plans. This internal acceptance is important, because without it many people simply give up. The inside stuff matters. Big-time.

Inner goals are very important, and though no one else can see them and the mirror does not reflect them clearly, they lend a shine that those who look closely do notice. Doesn't it seem worth the time to just appreciate those feelings of accomplishment because they are important in the journey? I think so.

What are some of the inner changes that do not show?
Good lab or doctor findings, improvements in numbers.
Finding we walk differently, feel taller as we move along.
Feeling more content.
Realizing we laugh more often and with more joy.

A multitude of wonderful changes occur that don't measure visibly, and I think these are the changes I treasure most.

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