Causerie

Friday's Fight for Fitness - 13

Instead of my regular post for today, I'm going to invite you over to Marie's to check in on her as she does a 3-day cleanse.

 

 

Friday's Fight for Fitness - 12

This was a bad week.  A bad, bad week. I ate candy, cake and home-made french fries. I walked only twice. 

Ugh.

Friday's Fight for Fitness - 11

She came into work, plopped down in her cubicle next to mine and said, "Whew! I slept good last night."  Naturally, I was curious and asked what was the deal and she said that she had starting taking Vitamin D and her sleep had improved dramatically.

Well... you know me.

As a chronic insomniac, I'm always looking for a magic cure (or tonic or formula or lullaby) for my sleeplessness --- however, I have noticed that if I work out before going to bed --- and I've been doing this lately because I'm getting home from work so late --- I usually sleep a little harder.

So anyway, my doctor ordered some blood work and sure enough my Vitamin D levels were deficient.   In her written summary, just before she said, "I would add another 15 minutes of exercise to your regimen daily..." she added, "Your vitamin D level was slightly low, so I would recommend that you take 2000 IU of Vit D every day."   So, I've started taking this mineral and though I haven't been able to feel a real difference yet, I've read that it's an essential vitamin in the fight against diabetes, heart disease and depression (something else I deal with almost on a daily basis). 

With 53 percent of women Vitamin D deficient,  I suggest you get tested as well.

Friday's Fight for Fitness - 10

It seems like at least once a year someone comes out with a list that tells us which foods are going to help us live longer and look better.  I've been paying attention to these lists and while there are a few additions and subtractions here and there, some food items remain year after year.  Walnuts, for example.  Walnuts always make the healthy food choice list.  And blueberries.

Recently, edamame is topping the list.  I wish I could say that I like edamame, but I don't. They taste like cardboard soaked in water (don't ask).  And sardines are popular again.  Apparently sardines are an excellent source of calcium and omega-3 fatty acids and as a home remedy to cure mumps, there's nothing better.  Did I ever tell you about the time I had the mumps (I know... I know... mumps are unheard of now) and my grandmother "cured" me with a sardine-poultice?  I'll have to tell you about that some day.

Other super foods include kiwi, kale, sweet potatoes, pumpkin and oranges and according to the people in the know, we are to include these foods into our diets on a regular basis.

I wonder does it count if the sweet potatoes are dripping with butter, brown sugar and a dash a cinnamon.

Friday's Fight for Fitness - 8

Some of you are kicking butt and taking names when it comes to your health and I must say that I'm impressed and encouraged.

For today's Friday's Fight for Fightness please go visit our friend, Annette, at her new blog here ---  especially if you are a runner.

Friday's Fight for Fitness - 7

I'm back on the treadmill.  And I danced --- like old school dancing --- a couple of times this week with the Wii Fitness thing.   That was more fun than I expected.

And I'm trying to eliminate sugar, or at least cut way back. I'm not sure that there's anything good about sugar --- except that it tastes so good.

How are you doing?  I mean really.  How are you?

Friday's Fight for Fightness - 6

Sodium.  Salt.  Hypertension. 

I've always been sort of heavy handed with the salt shaker.  It just made everything taste better. But since I'm on high blood pressure medication, I've been paying more attention to my sodium intake and trying take it down a notch. It's just unbelievable how much salt has been already added.

Baby steps, right?