Hello everyone!
I do apologize for not writing last week, admittedly some things just take precedence and sometimes in life we just get busy! So speaking of busy, I also find that being busy allows for one's mind to sometimes not get switched off leading to a number of things including sleep deprivation and anxiety.
As of late admittedly I haven't really been taking all that well of myself. I find that I'm not sleeping as well or I'm stressed out or even just turning to junk food! Yes that's right last week I totally caved and ended up eating chips, pizza, and other junk foods that I really shouldn't be in large amounts. I also have only done my walking to and from work. I find that I'm not motivated perhaps because I find I'm a person that needs a bit of encouragement here and there or just a pull in the right direction. There are many tools and apps etc. that can help but who has time for writing down every single day a food journal of everything you've eaten? Not me. I'm too exhausted half the time to even look at a screen to think and calculate calories and write all that down! And what about the weather? Not saying it's not a good thing to exercise but in the heat this is not a good thing so much and for me just being out in the heat for a long period of time has caused me to be ill to my stomach, dizzy, and migraines! Oh the painful migraines!
That being said I've found it very discouraging to do any exercise or sometimes even try. I need, motivation, encouragement and inspiration! So if anyone has any suggestions or would like to share their stories please let me know. I have found one thing, that I enjoy dance or watching dance. I enjoy music and I enjoy games and so I enjoy fun! My Wii is quite fun when I get up and going and sometimes I just feel like that's all I should do for hours is Dance Dance Revolution or even sometimes a bit of Zumba here and there (though I think I have to build up some stamina for that because that takes a lot out of you if you're not used to it). Even some of the Excerbeat which not only includes dance but yoga, stretching, aerobics (which includes the dance of Latin and hip hop moves), karate and boxercising (I have yet to get into the boxercising and hip hop moves) is really fun. Dance movies are also a good source of inspiration as well and it makes me want to get up and dance and even do my work out videos I have of bellydance and hula.
I would like to have someone who I could get together each week or even every two weeks to not only record here my progress, but also to just speak to or do the exercising with! My kitties are encouraging sometimes but they can only do so much you know! ;) lol
Anyway it's late and they say in a new report and experiment that those people who tend to sit in front of a computer or in dim lighting before bed in the wee hours of the evening, such as 11pm or later, tend to have more tendencies towards depression because the light actually is not part of your regular cycle. Here is a link to that report: http://ca.shine.yahoo.com/night-tv-computer-sessions-linked-depression-080046495.html . So hopefully with my new position in the business department (still a call center) and a different shift I`ll have more time and more daylight hours.
That being said, I will try to write another entry this weekend. And I may perhaps start writing here more to keep me motivated in my progress, we`ll see. Night everyone!!
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Weight control, Children/Tech and the Heatwave
Another week has gone by and I come bearing no news for results unfortunately about the cucumber or teabag treatments for puffy eyes however I do have some bit of research about obesity and some sites to look at this week with information about healthy weight. You'll also see to the right that I have now added a new link called Share Care which is related to Dr. Oz's site however it gives further tips and fitness suggestions. There is also another new link for a Women's Health and Lifestyle Magazine that I thought useful as well with some interesting information.
The first link I'd like to share while researching healthy weight and obesity is from our Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation. Please take some time to read over some of the information here, quite useful. http://www.heartandstroke.com/site/c.ikIQLcMWJtE/b.3479249/k.A5C3/Targeting_obesity.htm?gclid=CL77ybmBk7ECFbEBQAodEQkCeg I'd like to see what action plan they'd have in mind for my workplace, call centers seem to be one of the worst places as you're sitting all the time. There are more opportunities for high fat and high sodium foods which also makes you crave sugar which simple sugars are not good for you, like those in sodas.
I also have a link from wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obesity, I know perhaps not the most reliable source however it is a point of reference that it is an epidemic. You see we all concentrate on the noticeable diseases such as bulimia and anorexia, in fact in some cases that almost seems to be encouraged sadly. I have mentioned this book before, "No Fat Chicks" , and I recall reading a few portions where the author, Terry Poulton, doesn't just mention the "thin" diseases I'd like to call them but she did mention obesity and where things all changed in the 70's. Having a good weight on you and looking like you're healthy and have a bit of meat on you was the norm until then and in the fashion world it all changed, again the media influence. To mention what I did in the earlier post of what I saw in the parking lot of my workplace about a week to two weeks ago, that was admittedly disturbing. I again, am not normally one to judge, however again due to media influences and just being health conscious, I find it distasteful and can't understand why there are some who actually choose not to take care of themselves. There are some that it is legitimately due to a multitude of other health issues or disabilities or medications from those disabilities. However again, it is noted that it is the leading preventable cause of death in North America. By it being preventable that means we have more say in it than our genes actually do and we can prevent ourselves from getting that ill by eating right and doing the right kind of exercise. This is also a disease or epidemic seen in children who are not getting enough physical activity. We have been using technology as our babysitters instead of taking them outside or encouraging more physical activity, not just sports but even simple things like kicking a ball, running around playing tag, or jump rope are things almost of the past. Now they have ipods and phones, are playing video games and watching tv.
Now this isn't just about weight loss this week. I'd like to make mention of children's health with technology, particularly in reference to gaming because I don't think it's right that a 4 or 6 year old should be playing things like Call of Duty or Grand Theft Auto. Not only does it have an impact on weight by sitting and doing nothing but holding a controller, which by the way I highly encourage the Wii or the new Kinect or Move functions of Xbox or PlayStation especially for rainy days, but it also has a damaging impact on the way they view the world and people. Perception is everything and mental health is also important as well as emotional. These games can become addicting among others and are highly violent which makes people especially little ones almost indifferent and not care about others and believe that it's ok to hurt someone or not realize the actual real world impacts. They're too little and they are our future! If we want our future to believe that it's ok to be like that and not communicate other than through tech and not have any physical contact or that hurting others and breaking the law is alright, then ok people if you really want it that way but, I certainly don't and I don't really believe that we.. all of us adults and young people out there... really do either.
Nextly, my health has been poor in this heat wave, lots of water yes, however eating less isn't always the greatest nor is walking in the heat or even trying to work out in general. It can cause heatstroke, migraines, dehydration. So just remember not to overdo it in this hot weather ok everyone? Also to allergies are getting to a high point I've noticed and though my workplace says that they have filtered the air and so on it's just recycled and there are so many allergens that not only are brought in but are also inflamed and encouraged more so by hot weather. So for those who have breathing problems such as myself, usually it's recommended to stay in doors. Unfortunately I don't have that luxury not to go out or drive to work and so I have to walk; what was a 30 min walk now has turned to 45 minutes with dripping sweat and a lot of sun in the eyes! So take your time out there if you must be outside. Air conditioning helps once I get to work or home, or the fan and a hot shower to bring my temperature down. Did you know that if you have hot drinks or showers instead of cold during hot weather you're more likely to bring your temperature to what it is compared to outside and be cooler? Why? Because hot water cools, while cool water heats up and so if you use cool water it's going to heat up faster even in your core than you would cool down to be a level internal temperature to the external temperature. (I seriously hope that made sense to people!! ). Just remember to stay hydrated and not have a ton of caffeine as that can make things worse too. Oh and in this hot weather the mugginess and no wind, makes it even harder for your body to actually stay cool though your sweating, cause that's the whole point of sweat right? Your body will actually get dehydrated faster because it can't cool itself with no wind etc. because your body is just sweating not drying and it drys slower in the 29 deg C. and up weather.
So there you have it everyone that is this week's blog. I really don't have much more this week but I am planning on more next week and so stay tuned. :) Have a cool week as here in Ontario it's supposed to get even hotter this week once more!
The first link I'd like to share while researching healthy weight and obesity is from our Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation. Please take some time to read over some of the information here, quite useful. http://www.heartandstroke.com/site/c.ikIQLcMWJtE/b.3479249/k.A5C3/Targeting_obesity.htm?gclid=CL77ybmBk7ECFbEBQAodEQkCeg I'd like to see what action plan they'd have in mind for my workplace, call centers seem to be one of the worst places as you're sitting all the time. There are more opportunities for high fat and high sodium foods which also makes you crave sugar which simple sugars are not good for you, like those in sodas.
I also have a link from wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obesity, I know perhaps not the most reliable source however it is a point of reference that it is an epidemic. You see we all concentrate on the noticeable diseases such as bulimia and anorexia, in fact in some cases that almost seems to be encouraged sadly. I have mentioned this book before, "No Fat Chicks" , and I recall reading a few portions where the author, Terry Poulton, doesn't just mention the "thin" diseases I'd like to call them but she did mention obesity and where things all changed in the 70's. Having a good weight on you and looking like you're healthy and have a bit of meat on you was the norm until then and in the fashion world it all changed, again the media influence. To mention what I did in the earlier post of what I saw in the parking lot of my workplace about a week to two weeks ago, that was admittedly disturbing. I again, am not normally one to judge, however again due to media influences and just being health conscious, I find it distasteful and can't understand why there are some who actually choose not to take care of themselves. There are some that it is legitimately due to a multitude of other health issues or disabilities or medications from those disabilities. However again, it is noted that it is the leading preventable cause of death in North America. By it being preventable that means we have more say in it than our genes actually do and we can prevent ourselves from getting that ill by eating right and doing the right kind of exercise. This is also a disease or epidemic seen in children who are not getting enough physical activity. We have been using technology as our babysitters instead of taking them outside or encouraging more physical activity, not just sports but even simple things like kicking a ball, running around playing tag, or jump rope are things almost of the past. Now they have ipods and phones, are playing video games and watching tv.
Now this isn't just about weight loss this week. I'd like to make mention of children's health with technology, particularly in reference to gaming because I don't think it's right that a 4 or 6 year old should be playing things like Call of Duty or Grand Theft Auto. Not only does it have an impact on weight by sitting and doing nothing but holding a controller, which by the way I highly encourage the Wii or the new Kinect or Move functions of Xbox or PlayStation especially for rainy days, but it also has a damaging impact on the way they view the world and people. Perception is everything and mental health is also important as well as emotional. These games can become addicting among others and are highly violent which makes people especially little ones almost indifferent and not care about others and believe that it's ok to hurt someone or not realize the actual real world impacts. They're too little and they are our future! If we want our future to believe that it's ok to be like that and not communicate other than through tech and not have any physical contact or that hurting others and breaking the law is alright, then ok people if you really want it that way but, I certainly don't and I don't really believe that we.. all of us adults and young people out there... really do either.
Nextly, my health has been poor in this heat wave, lots of water yes, however eating less isn't always the greatest nor is walking in the heat or even trying to work out in general. It can cause heatstroke, migraines, dehydration. So just remember not to overdo it in this hot weather ok everyone? Also to allergies are getting to a high point I've noticed and though my workplace says that they have filtered the air and so on it's just recycled and there are so many allergens that not only are brought in but are also inflamed and encouraged more so by hot weather. So for those who have breathing problems such as myself, usually it's recommended to stay in doors. Unfortunately I don't have that luxury not to go out or drive to work and so I have to walk; what was a 30 min walk now has turned to 45 minutes with dripping sweat and a lot of sun in the eyes! So take your time out there if you must be outside. Air conditioning helps once I get to work or home, or the fan and a hot shower to bring my temperature down. Did you know that if you have hot drinks or showers instead of cold during hot weather you're more likely to bring your temperature to what it is compared to outside and be cooler? Why? Because hot water cools, while cool water heats up and so if you use cool water it's going to heat up faster even in your core than you would cool down to be a level internal temperature to the external temperature. (I seriously hope that made sense to people!! ). Just remember to stay hydrated and not have a ton of caffeine as that can make things worse too. Oh and in this hot weather the mugginess and no wind, makes it even harder for your body to actually stay cool though your sweating, cause that's the whole point of sweat right? Your body will actually get dehydrated faster because it can't cool itself with no wind etc. because your body is just sweating not drying and it drys slower in the 29 deg C. and up weather.
So there you have it everyone that is this week's blog. I really don't have much more this week but I am planning on more next week and so stay tuned. :) Have a cool week as here in Ontario it's supposed to get even hotter this week once more!
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Skin care, Weight and Pets
This week I'd like to talk about 3 things. 1. A bit about men's health and skin care 2. Portion sizes/research on weight gain 3. Pet health and pets affect us and our health.
The reason why I bring up men's health is more that my dad brought to my attention a couple things. That and this journal is not just meant for us ladies, it's meant to be towards the gents too! The first thing my dad mentioned was his hands, he was a millwright so that means that over many many years of working with oil and metal and such that his hands have become stained a bit , calloused and tough and his nails crack including the skin around. Unfortunately this, though perhaps not as common now as is or was back about 10 or so years ago is still something that guys still go through especially if they're working in labor jobs. They've made new products specifically for men now such as Vaseline lotion for men and men's hands specifically. Men's skin is tougher than women's and women's lotion does not work or soak into the skin as well on a guy. So guys not to worry, there is stuff out there for you without stocking your shelves full of girly feminine like products. Something that I would like my dad to try is that type of lotion to see if perhaps it does help, though also too something that us women use is cuticle oil, and that too can help. Might seem too girly for some but it really does help prevent and protect your nails and from hangnails which you really don't want to rip off. Admittedly I myself am lucky and have never really gotten hangnails. But dad... he has and they can hurt and if not cut off properly as one of my other little family members found out, can really cause infection and really hurt.
The next thing my dad brought to my attention is bags. Yes you know those puffy dreadful circles some of us see when we wake up in the morning? Yeah those. Well after a bit of research I found that the reason why we get them is for a multitude of reasons, caffeine, lack of sleep, allergies, age. With my dad it is primarily age, he's 60 and apparently as you get older the skin around your eyes loses it's elasticity and starts to droop. Yet another reason ladies not to wear make up so much!! since that doesn't help but block your pores etc. Now for guys there are ways to avoid and to of course help fix these dark circles and bags under your eyes, again just like women you have skin care products. But I find that that can be overall expensive and the traditional ways, though they may sound silly actually do and or can work and have been known to work. One is cucumbers, sliced and chilled and left on sitting back with your feet elevated for about 15 -20 min. Next option is to use tea bags,dry and frozen after several hours and then again on eyes for the same time frame. Now I've never tried that method however I have tried the cucumbers and that worked for me but did not seem to work for dad. The last option which he is going to test out and I'll tell the results next week or the week after since you really have to do this frequently to try to get results, is wet tea bags, particularly green tea since it has more healthy stuff in it. They must be cold so chill in the fridge for a few hours in cold water and then drain lightly and drape over eyes for again about 15 to 20 min.
The last thing I'd like to talk about in regards to men's health is just a side note. That is guys you don't need to work out til the point your nothing but muscle! There is less emphasis on guys to look good but it is still out there and to some does influence their self esteem etc just like women. As much as you'd like not to admit it guys are just as self conscious as women and still have much if not many of the same issues. Portion sizes of food and working out lightly and doing small things especially if you have any health issues to begin with or are older are good ways to start being healthy. I find even as a woman I eat large portions of my favorite foods such as pasta, which isn't good for me! This leads me to also do a bit of research, more so for the upcoming weeks, into weight gain. Just the other day I saw a person outside my work trying to get into their vehicle. I'm sorry, I'm not one to judge and there are and could be many reasons why they have this much weight, but it reminded me of watching the movie Wall-e where all the people were so heavy that they were held up by suspension units and despite being on liquid diet were unable to even get up and walk by themselves without wobbling and falling down. This disturbs me that we do have people like this and though they could be due to a medical condition it can also be due to not eating proper with no to minimal exercise. Even one person I know, though I've tried in the past, I gave up trying to help because he and his family just don't understand the concept of portion size and that though buying in bulk can be cheaper to some extent, buying per week and portion size everything out is better. Anyway more on that next week.
The last things I'd like to talk about is Pets and pet health!! Yes this journal is not just going to be for humans either since our furry friends need just as much attention as we do! My kitties are my babies. Though some people would like to think that I have no concept what it is like to be a mother, and to some extent that may be true and I will never have kids (by my own choice), I do understand that having a little life in your hands is a life changing thing. My Ozzy for example saved my life, the second time a cat has done so I might add, by just entering my life when I was in a dark place. I was very alone and being lonely brings on depression and such and having this little kitty who has a grade 4 heart murmur and nearly died on me cause he ate ribbon (NEVER leave ribbon or string out since your pets can eat it and it will wrap around their intestine and can gradually kill them! and never lift a kitty while they're hacking up a hairball etc. just to avoid the carpet, they WILL choke! ) was life changing. It made me feel not alone, not depressed and much happier to have such a friend. Yes ok I can be considered a crazy cat lady but they really do help. Bringing in Cosmo has yet again made me feel that way and made Ozzy not feel so alone when I'm at work and actually he's lost weight for keeping in shape playing more frequently and seems happy to have a little friend. Animals get depressed and lonely too you see and have just as many issues as we do including heart issues, weight gain issues and even to the extreme of getting cancer. Taking care of them , they will in turn take care of us. Not only can you go for a walk or run with your dog but having a dog or cat allows you to have decreased anxiety and depression, less likely to have heart attack etc. and people who have pets seem to live a bit longer. Now remember, in this heat, please don't leave your dog in vehicles without windows open and lots and lots of water and even in apartments, kitties and small pets need water too. Don't take them out or walk them on asphalt since in this heat we've been having in Ontario for example can burn their little feet. And it is flea season so make sure to get rid of fleas by spraying down, vacuuming your home and bathe or make sure that your animals do have flea treatments. My poor Oz is allergic to fleas and gets sores... poor kitty was in shame for weeks since I couldn't get the right meds. Also fleas bring with them Worms! Make sure to get treatment by vet or I've found that thus far a homeopathic remedy from the pet store is seemingly working thus far so we'll see how that goes.
And that is all for this week's post folks! Check in next week for further results and topics! Again if anyone has suggestions for topics or comments don't hesitate to do so! :)
The reason why I bring up men's health is more that my dad brought to my attention a couple things. That and this journal is not just meant for us ladies, it's meant to be towards the gents too! The first thing my dad mentioned was his hands, he was a millwright so that means that over many many years of working with oil and metal and such that his hands have become stained a bit , calloused and tough and his nails crack including the skin around. Unfortunately this, though perhaps not as common now as is or was back about 10 or so years ago is still something that guys still go through especially if they're working in labor jobs. They've made new products specifically for men now such as Vaseline lotion for men and men's hands specifically. Men's skin is tougher than women's and women's lotion does not work or soak into the skin as well on a guy. So guys not to worry, there is stuff out there for you without stocking your shelves full of girly feminine like products. Something that I would like my dad to try is that type of lotion to see if perhaps it does help, though also too something that us women use is cuticle oil, and that too can help. Might seem too girly for some but it really does help prevent and protect your nails and from hangnails which you really don't want to rip off. Admittedly I myself am lucky and have never really gotten hangnails. But dad... he has and they can hurt and if not cut off properly as one of my other little family members found out, can really cause infection and really hurt.
The next thing my dad brought to my attention is bags. Yes you know those puffy dreadful circles some of us see when we wake up in the morning? Yeah those. Well after a bit of research I found that the reason why we get them is for a multitude of reasons, caffeine, lack of sleep, allergies, age. With my dad it is primarily age, he's 60 and apparently as you get older the skin around your eyes loses it's elasticity and starts to droop. Yet another reason ladies not to wear make up so much!! since that doesn't help but block your pores etc. Now for guys there are ways to avoid and to of course help fix these dark circles and bags under your eyes, again just like women you have skin care products. But I find that that can be overall expensive and the traditional ways, though they may sound silly actually do and or can work and have been known to work. One is cucumbers, sliced and chilled and left on sitting back with your feet elevated for about 15 -20 min. Next option is to use tea bags,dry and frozen after several hours and then again on eyes for the same time frame. Now I've never tried that method however I have tried the cucumbers and that worked for me but did not seem to work for dad. The last option which he is going to test out and I'll tell the results next week or the week after since you really have to do this frequently to try to get results, is wet tea bags, particularly green tea since it has more healthy stuff in it. They must be cold so chill in the fridge for a few hours in cold water and then drain lightly and drape over eyes for again about 15 to 20 min.
The last thing I'd like to talk about in regards to men's health is just a side note. That is guys you don't need to work out til the point your nothing but muscle! There is less emphasis on guys to look good but it is still out there and to some does influence their self esteem etc just like women. As much as you'd like not to admit it guys are just as self conscious as women and still have much if not many of the same issues. Portion sizes of food and working out lightly and doing small things especially if you have any health issues to begin with or are older are good ways to start being healthy. I find even as a woman I eat large portions of my favorite foods such as pasta, which isn't good for me! This leads me to also do a bit of research, more so for the upcoming weeks, into weight gain. Just the other day I saw a person outside my work trying to get into their vehicle. I'm sorry, I'm not one to judge and there are and could be many reasons why they have this much weight, but it reminded me of watching the movie Wall-e where all the people were so heavy that they were held up by suspension units and despite being on liquid diet were unable to even get up and walk by themselves without wobbling and falling down. This disturbs me that we do have people like this and though they could be due to a medical condition it can also be due to not eating proper with no to minimal exercise. Even one person I know, though I've tried in the past, I gave up trying to help because he and his family just don't understand the concept of portion size and that though buying in bulk can be cheaper to some extent, buying per week and portion size everything out is better. Anyway more on that next week.
The last things I'd like to talk about is Pets and pet health!! Yes this journal is not just going to be for humans either since our furry friends need just as much attention as we do! My kitties are my babies. Though some people would like to think that I have no concept what it is like to be a mother, and to some extent that may be true and I will never have kids (by my own choice), I do understand that having a little life in your hands is a life changing thing. My Ozzy for example saved my life, the second time a cat has done so I might add, by just entering my life when I was in a dark place. I was very alone and being lonely brings on depression and such and having this little kitty who has a grade 4 heart murmur and nearly died on me cause he ate ribbon (NEVER leave ribbon or string out since your pets can eat it and it will wrap around their intestine and can gradually kill them! and never lift a kitty while they're hacking up a hairball etc. just to avoid the carpet, they WILL choke! ) was life changing. It made me feel not alone, not depressed and much happier to have such a friend. Yes ok I can be considered a crazy cat lady but they really do help. Bringing in Cosmo has yet again made me feel that way and made Ozzy not feel so alone when I'm at work and actually he's lost weight for keeping in shape playing more frequently and seems happy to have a little friend. Animals get depressed and lonely too you see and have just as many issues as we do including heart issues, weight gain issues and even to the extreme of getting cancer. Taking care of them , they will in turn take care of us. Not only can you go for a walk or run with your dog but having a dog or cat allows you to have decreased anxiety and depression, less likely to have heart attack etc. and people who have pets seem to live a bit longer. Now remember, in this heat, please don't leave your dog in vehicles without windows open and lots and lots of water and even in apartments, kitties and small pets need water too. Don't take them out or walk them on asphalt since in this heat we've been having in Ontario for example can burn their little feet. And it is flea season so make sure to get rid of fleas by spraying down, vacuuming your home and bathe or make sure that your animals do have flea treatments. My poor Oz is allergic to fleas and gets sores... poor kitty was in shame for weeks since I couldn't get the right meds. Also fleas bring with them Worms! Make sure to get treatment by vet or I've found that thus far a homeopathic remedy from the pet store is seemingly working thus far so we'll see how that goes.
And that is all for this week's post folks! Check in next week for further results and topics! Again if anyone has suggestions for topics or comments don't hesitate to do so! :)
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