Almost the End of February!

Friday, February 22, 2013

It's been a busy month - getting back to work, catching up with the bookkeeping, getting the new year started for incoming students & students that have to finish. I'm used to being the 'fill-in' gal. Through no effort of my own, I've become the Office Manager! Ouch! Not a position I wanted, that's for sure. I only wanted to work a couple days a week but here I am working full time. For this year anyway. Since I'm about to be 62, I suppose I should relax & enjoy it for the next three years & slide into retirement. I can still do the books for a couple of small businesses to keep my hand in & continue with my Income Tax business every spring. I don't get really busy at work till the middle of April & by then the taxes will all be filed.

I've begun to think seriously about my diet. My ankles have been swollen all winter with is unusual for me. Either I have to increase my BP medications or adjust my diet & exercise programs. I gained weight being immobile with sciatica & it's really bothering me. Today, I pick up my new FITBIT which will record every step I take without a nasty armband that pinches & gives me blisters! I got the cheap one in hot pink that only records calories, steps & mileage for now. I wanted the one that you wear as a bracelet but I'm not sure my phone will work with it so for now, I got the cheap one. I need to know how many steps I take & I need that instant feed back. I'm also going to check out the DASH diet. I do eat a lot of fruit & veg but I've been buying takeout breakfasts & I need to stop. Back to oatmeal again. So, here I go once more - gadget in hand & following the rules for a change!!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

TXTOAD9970 2/22/2013 3:37PM

Enjoy your fitbit. I love mine (I have the cheap one too). I find I take more steps when I wear it! Have a great weekend! Report Inappropriate Comment

LJOYCE55 2/22/2013 3:19PM

Yeah, I love take breakfast as well. Not sure where you live, but Subway has a great selection of breakfast sandwiches that are under 350 calories with lots of veggies. Good luck with your job - it does not sound bad at all. Report Inappropriate Comment

Snuffling Right Along

Sunday, January 20, 2013

This damned virus won't let me be! I've been coughing since Christmas. It's a nice dry hack that doesn't seem to go away combined with a voice that comes & goes. Periodically it's combined with 10 minutes of sneezing & a couple of hours of blowing my nose. Twice now, it's also been accompanied by nausea or an aching stomach. You can't really medicate this thing. No point in going to the doctor because it's 'a Virus'. So I live by the cough drop, kleenex & gravol package. Besides that, all is more or less, well. I've gone back to work - I hate it!!! GRIN. But I've also gone back to Take Out in the morning. I get a free paper with my Mcmuffin & tea. Eating in the morning is not my thing - nauseates me. I get up at 7 & eat around 11. Can't help it. I'll have to take cereal & milk to work I guess . . . But I do take lunch. Salads, fruit, chicken. So I'm not altogether incorrigible.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

GZELLEFRO 1/20/2013 10:57PM

It took me 2 1/2 weeks to get over the creeping crud! And it developed into bronchitis. You'll get better! I used to get sick at breakfast too. I don't anymore, but you have to do what works for you. I sleep until ten or eleven every day so my meals are all skewed. I eat breakfast at lunch and lunch mid afternoon and dinner with my hubby at dinner time. If it works for you, great! Have you tried something light like a banana for breakfast? Maybe that'd work. Good luck. Hope you have a great day! God bless! Report Inappropriate Comment

How Time Flies

Monday, January 14, 2013

I can't believe it's almost two weeks since I made an entry here!! A lot has changed. My sciatic pain has stopped & I can walk normally again - well more or less. The muscles in my right leg are weak & I can't walk upstairs unless I can LEAN on something with my right side. I can bend over & put on my socks again!! And I can tie my shoes without problems. I can now twist to both sides & getting into & driving my car doesn't give me pain anymore!! Woo Hoo!! I can't believe how nice it is not to have constant pain. And now I have to strengthen my body to avoid that pain if I can in future.
I have tried my best to eliminate Take Out from my diet. Oh, I still eat the odd egg mcmuffin & coffee on my way to work but that's it. It isn't my daily diet & only used on mornings when I'm rushed or get called into work when I should be off. I eat a lot of Chinese style meals - but they're cooked at home with fresh vegetables. I don't eat much bread or pasta & have switched - grudgingly - to brown rice. Sigh. And Quinoa. And Spelt. Did you know you can cook Pot Barley like brown rice?? I like it better & it's a whole grain. Very nice under curried chicken & brussels sprouts!!!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

SIRIRADHA1 1/18/2013 10:57AM

Barley, yummers! Congratulations on the quick improvements! So glad you're not suffering with sciatica; I know how painful that can be! Report Inappropriate Comment

NASFKAB 1/17/2013 10:39AM

try to avoid fast food Report Inappropriate Comment

DRPOOH63 1/14/2013 2:46PM

Interesting about the barley - I was just reading that is a good food to add your list so good to know. Report Inappropriate Comment

NEPTUNE1939 1/14/2013 2:29PM

When traveling I'll stop off at a McDinald's for a double cheese burger & coffee. for lunch. At 449 calories it holds me until dinner, I also enjoy an egg McMuffin on occassions, Earl Report Inappropriate Comment

2013 - here we go

Tuesday, January 01, 2013

Another year, another blank slate. I'm sitting here at almost 3AM on the first day of a brand new year contemplating the options. Yeah, I went out & bought chips to snack on for New Year's but they're baked. I didn't bother with dip but did buy a couple of containers of grape tomatoes for my snack tray as well. I stir-fried baby bok choy with Chinese sausage for dinner & drank hot tea all evening. Not a bad start to a New Year all round. I could've done a whole lot worse. But, you know, my choices were pretty darned good & I intend to build on them for the coming year. More whole foods, more fresh foods less take out & drive thru. Not making promises or guarantees. Just want to stay mobile, healthy & interested in the world.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MT-MOONCHASER 1/1/2013 12:02PM

I wish for you a healthy and mobile year. Report Inappropriate Comment

Stairs or no Stairs

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Stairs are my nemisis! Lifting that right leg still gives me burning pain. The Doctor says, 'if it hurts, don't DO it.' Yeah, right. Lifting my leg to get into the car still hurts too. Sometimes I don't sleep at night because it burns but I make sure I do my best even if it's taking a couple of naps because I didn't sleep. I'm sure when I get back to work in the middle of next month, I'll be too tired NOT to sleep. In the meantime, when I go shopping, I get a buggy & walk all the aisles. In a Big Box store, that's a lot of steps!! Oh I know, I'm leaning on the buggy but I'd rather walk more steps with the buggy's assistance than limp around a couple of aisles & then go home. I can get up a few steps leading with that leg only if I lean on a rail. I figure it's better to do some & strengthen that leg than do none. I've cut down snacks & increased my high fibre foods in the last couple of weeks & can see the difference already. So, baby steps again, hopefully they will lead to big steps later. And what's in the Crock Pot today??? Cowboy Chili. There's no meat in this one but lots of black beans & bean salad mix with a diced yam for color. I will top with a little sour creme & grated old cheddar. And it's good, hot or cold, travels & will be shared with my Ex so I'm not eating it for a week!!