Wednesday November 29, 2017

My husband's oncologist refers to sitting in the sun as "light therapy." We've been doing some of that lately here -- in the unseasonably warm, dry, sunshiney fall we're having. Yesterday, on November 28, the thermometer hit 77 degrees! What the actual ...?!?!

My BFF ordered one of those light spectrum boxes for his health. Lack of light can adversely affect many people. He has historically suffered from deeper depression during the winter months than during the summer months. His light box arrived today and I'm hoping it helps him.

Light therapy is a real thing. There is ample medical research with conclusive evidence that shows lack of light can negatively impact health and mood. The negative impact becomes greater on people the closer they live to either pole. Interesting, I'd say!

My mom was onto something then!

I agree with that! I have a very difficult time with the lack of light in winter which is partially why Florida sunshine (wit a slightly longer day) is so appealing.

Greetings Non-dieters

141.5 today. Not good. Last night we had mini pizzas from the health food store. Very good and only 290 calories. I could not eat all of mine. Still, somehow the carby stuff seems to make me gain weight even if the calories are low. How many times do I have to learn that? It also makes me sleepy.

Speaking of sleep, I listened to a radio interview of an author of a book about accomplished people and how they had solved problems. One said she had gotten over insomnia by using "weighted" blankets. Reminded me of the "sleep with socks on" idea.

I wish we had Aldi's. The discount grocery is some distance away so I spend more to shop closer. But there is a grocery outlet under construction in our town so we will see what they have.

Yep Cecily, dogs rule our house too. They hog the bed and treat us like pieces of furniture or servants or personal chefs. Our older dog is due for a check up and I know they are going to want to do an expensive dentistry. Oh well.

Paula, sorry about the case of the foamies. At least you know sleeve is on duty. Even after all these years I still get "surprised" once in awhile. Wishing you well on the mission at Mayo's.

Good luck on the detox, Devon. My food issues seem to be more with cheese and nuts and crackers. Demons come in many forms; vacuumed sealed in plastic and cardboard. Loved your description of the little good guy and bad guy on your shoulders.

Shel, who would steal your shrimp?? Are there sea otters where you work? Yeah I am sure no one would steal your protein drink.

Take care all. Diane S

Hahaha! You got me! .....

Not really, though. My idea of a detox is pretty low tech. It doesn't even come close to the MAW type of diet. (Forgive me, I forget what the CA part means!)I simply eliminate foods that contain added sugar. So yesterday, I ate whole natural foods that were self prepared or prepared by Ron. Ron sauteed butternut squash with browned butter and "winter" spices for our veggie last night. When I asked he admitted he put in a couple of tsps of brown sugar. I still eat fruit, dairy, whole grain bread, steel cut oatmeal, quinoa, sweet potatoes, veggies and salad.

So late to the game today.

Oh, my! I did not realize how physically reliant on sugar I had become. I actually got a withdrawal headache last night and did not kick it until mid afternoon today. I took my usual fail safe headache treatment, but no going. I went to bed with the ache and awoke many times during the night feeling the ache. Got up around 2:00am and took another 400 mg Ibuprofen (no judgments please). Still nothing. I "googled" symptoms of sugar withdrawal and many of the lists cited headache one of them.

I had a great workout yesterday. 30 in box jumps, pull downs, upped chest press weight to 110, and Holy Guacamole!!!! I "rowed" 420 meters in 1 minute 45 seconds on the rowing machine. Can you say breathless?! Also did wall sits for 1 minute holding a 20 pound medicine ball and hanging knee raises. It was a good reminder that strength matters more than the number on the scale - when it comes right down to it.

I am going to follow Ann's example today and list my F/V intake for yesterday and so far for today. (I'm celebrating how well I've done in two days incorporating fruits and vegetable in to my day. (Yes, I said vegetable - LOL! You know, I'm not a veggie guy! So...... Yesterday's F/V came from 1 banana, 2 Cuties (clementine mandarine oranges), 1 small fuji apple, 1/4 cup each of wild blueberries and fresh raspberries, 3 oz cooked green beans and 1/2 cup cubed sauteed butternut squash. I'm counting that as 7 servings. Whooo hoo for me! (See, giddy from sugar detox...) Today's F/V so far are: 1 banana, 1/4 cup each of blueberries and raspberries, 1/4-1/3 cup butternut squah, 2 Cuties. Plan on having a salad with flank steak for dinner, berries and vanilla whipped cream for my "late night snack".

So, 2 days down. 1 more to go before I feel like I'm past the worst part of the detox. Day 2 and 3 are usually most difficult for me with any kind of forced change of eating. Feeling good about my reset.

Cheers!

Good job with your detox! Funny about the F/V increase. I love that stuff.

I wanted to ask you about holiday eating and how it might affect work outs. On Thanksgiving, I had somewhat more sugar/carbs/calories and a LOT more salt than usual. Leftovers continued over the weekend. Calories weren't than different than usual but macros definitely veered towards carbs and again a lot more salt. Sleep was pretty normal.

I was massively tired at my Sat and Sun workouts and heart rate was elevated. Tue and today were a bit better as far as energy goes but heart rate still elevated.

Anyhoo, as someone who works out regularly AND tracks your diet regularly, have you noticed changes in work out performance related to macro/sodium shifts?

Your workouts are always fun to read about. I have been trying to be enthusiastic about upper body workouts. I want stronger arms/shoulders but don't want to do anything about it.

Wrote out a nice reply and then my laptop ran low on juice and crashed when I plugged it into the charger! Damn!

So, cracks me up that you want to work on your upper body but don't want to at the same time. I hate working my lower body, but have come to appreciate what working out my lower body has done for my strength and shape of my legs. Most of the lower body work that I hate, most women enjoy. The upper body work I enjoy are the general workouts that most of my women friends despise. Shows that we tend to go for what is easiest... Hehehehe....

Yes, I do notice a significant difference in my workouts in regard to energy level, performance, stamina, and overall sense of strength, flexibility, and agility depending upon the food with which I fuel my body. High carb days don't bother me one bit IF the carbs are carbs that are "Devon Friendly". As a matter of fact, I had a small apple about 1/2 hour before my workout yesterday. I believe that apple gave a little bit of a POW to my workout. However, if the carbs are highly refined and sugary carbs (cookies, baked goods, chocolate) and I have had more than my body can handle efficiently, then my workouts are negatively impacted. I feel utterly bedraggled going in to start my workout and sometimes have to really get my head in the game to make it through. Nothing like starting a workout after a low blood sugar episode!

There are two surefire things that adversely affect a work out for me: one, overeating at lunch time or eating too large of an afternoon snack before a 4 pm workout and, two, having had too much sugar either the day of or the day before a scheduled heavy workout. For me, the sugar issue is the more significant of the two.