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Archive for March, 2008

First Rule of Walking: Keep Hydrated

Originally uploaded by Sister72

It may still be a bit cold where you are, but as spring arrives, it’s a great time to think about getting outside and being more active.

1. Get some new shoes if you haven’t for a while. Your walking or running shoes may need to be replaced, and this is a perfect time.

2. Take a walk around your house and yard and make a list of things that need to be done. Each item on the list is an opportunity to get more active and get some needed things done.

3. Prepare your flower beds. If that seems like a lot of work, (more…)

I’ve had a few issues with this theme for a while, so I’ll be making a switch tonight. If things look a bit funky for a while, that’s why.

Update:

I think everything’s working okay. If you notice any problems, send me an email or comment here. Thanks!

How do you get the most out of your visits to the doctor? Whether you’re sick or just getting a checkup, you’ll want to take some steps to make the most of your visit.

• Make a list of questions, issues, etc. that you’d like to talk about before you go. Sit down with your spouse or another family member and talk about any issues you might want to bring up while you’re there.
• Print out copies of notes you’ve taken about your condition or concern. If you’re referring to books or websites, take copies with you if possible.
• Don’t be shy about asking the questions. Get out your notes and go through the things you want to talk about. If you think the visit will be a long one, alert the staff when you make your appointment to allot extra time.
• Take notes during your visit. Ask your doctor to repeat things, spell them, whatever is necessary.
• Don’t let your doctor put you off. If your doctor seems as if he’s in a hurry to go or doesn’t have time, then politely ask if you should make another appointment to get your questions answered. Chances are, you won’t.
• If your doctor blows you off or acts as if you’re silly to ask these things, seriously consider getting another doctor. You have a right to understand your health and your care.
• If your doctor’s directions or advice differ from what you expected, then ask about his reasoning. You have a right to know why a course of action is being prescribed.
• Ask your doctor if there’s a website or literature you can get for more reading.
• Your visit doesn’t necessarily have to end when you walk out. If you have concerns, call and speak to a nurse or leave a question for the doctor. Don’t worry about being a pest, it’s your health.
• Don’t be afraid to get a second opinion. Often doctors working in the same practice will have varying ideas on how to proceed with a patient’s care.
• Do your own research. No, you’re not a doctor, but that doesn’t mean you can’t, or shouldn’t, understand everything about your health that you can.

In case you’re wondering, I have a reason for posting these tips. I’ll write about it in a few days, once I’ve had time to get over my frustration. If I wrote about it down, it would just be a bitch session. Let’s just say that I had a less-than-positive experience with my new doctor. I’m grateful that I’ve begun to get more assertive with my own medical care, and I’d like to help others do the same.

If you take nothing else away from this… it’s your health, your body, your future. Your doctor is just a person, capable of making mistakes, having a bad day, or simply not giving a crap. No one cares more about your health than you do, so step up and take charge of your medical care.

Emoms at Home has a great article today. She talks about struggling with depression and feeling inadequate. You’ll be surprised at what you can really do, or “you can do more than you think you can…”

Thinking about this in terms of your health and weight loss, think about what you’ve accomplished already. What changes have you made. How are you taking better care of yourself now than you were a few months ago?

I believe that the biggest hurdles we face are often our own negative thoughts. As long as you think you won’t be able to do something, you won’t. On the other hand, believing you can do something is often 90 percent of the battle. Unfortunately, we continue to tell ourselves we can’t do the things we want, and we allow other people to do the same to us.

Spend some time today reminding yourself of all the things you have done, and can do. If someone, including you, tries to say differently, don’t listen.

So, what can you do?

This is super easy, and very good. By making a couple changes, you can make them much lower in carbs than they normally would be, and you won’t notice the difference.

• Ground beef (about a pound and a half)
• Low-carb flour tortillas
• Canned enchilada sauce
• Mozzarella cheese
• Tobasco sauce (if desired)
• Refried beans (if desired)

Fry your ground beef as you would for tacos. About a pound and a half of lean ground beef is enough to make about eight enchiladas. Add powdered taco seasoning and a little water and allow the meat to simmer until the seasoning cooks through. Add salt and pepper to taste, but be careful. The taco seasoning can be a bit salty. I tend to go light on the taco seasoning since it can be a bit high in carbs.

Choose low-carb flour tortillas. Add two or three spoonfuls of the meat to each enchilada and roll up. You can add cheese inside the enchilada, but I prefer to just put it on top.

Spread some enchilada sauce on the bottom of a baking dish. Place the rolled, filled tortillas in the pan, close together. Spoon more enchilada sauce over the top. If you want to avoid the carbs in the sauce but still add heat, mix in some extra tabasco and then use less enchilada sauce.

Sprinkle liberally with mozzarella cheese.

Bake on 400 degrees until they’re sizzling and the cheese is melted and bubbly.

I serve refried beans on the side rather than adding them to the enchiladas. They’re relatively high in carbs, so we tend to do better by having a small side serving of them rather than putting them inside the tortillas.

Enjoy!

It’s been a tough week and a half. I’ve felt awful, and for a few days I had trouble getting anything at all down. When I’m not feeling well, I forget about watching what I eat and just eat whatever  I can.

When you’re sick, the first priority is to take care of yourself, not lose weight.  Here are some tips that may help you if you come down with something nasty.

• Cola syrup. You can get this at some pharmacies. It’s a very concentrated syrup that you pour over crushed ice. This is great for nausea.
• If you can’t find cola syrup, flatten a pepsi or coke and pour that over crushed ice.
• Ginger ale is another choice. I prefer mine warm and flat when I’m sick (yes, that sounds gross).
• Eat whatever you think you can stomach, even if it seems odd. This time around, fruit was the only thing I could reliably eat.
• Use a heating pad for body aches.
• Try to get up and move around, even if you just feel like lying down. I think it makes you feel better in the long run.
• Head to the doctor. If you catch the flu in time, you can take medicine to lessen its effects. Unfortunately, I wasn’t lucky enough to catch it in time.
• Your family can also take medicine (like Tamiflu) to prevent catching the flu from you. This is especially good for family members who are older or in poor health.
• Stay off from work if at all possible. There’s no need to make yourself suffer, or share the misery.

Stay well!

I’ve been sick this week with a terrible case of the flu. I think I’m finally on the mend, so I’ll get back to my posting schedule soon.