Yes, October and November were a whirlwind of doctors and tests. 5 doctors and one Cat Scan, one Ultra Sound and one MRI later and the decision was made to have surgery. So....on Dec. 1st I had surgery to remove a small mass on my kidney and to clean up my stomach from lots of adhesions (scar tissue). Yikes! I spent 2 days in the hospital and I am now home recouperating.
I am also working on building my immune system. When you have something major like surgery your immune system can become weak. I rest when my body says rest and I stay hydrated and try to eat well. I let my body tell me what it needs. I am taking my supplements and vitamins. With the recent Covid outbreak it is important to keep your body strong.
And with Christmas around the corner it is also important to keep your emotions strong. As I get older my group of friends gets smaller. With Covid, parties are few and shopping seems to be online.I hope to plan a Zoom party with a few friends. Just remember that Christmas is about a baby being born in a manager. If you do not have plans on Christmas Eve there are many Christmas Eve services, in person and online. Your emotions will thank you for it. Invest in the real meaning of Christmas.
Hugs,
India
Yes, I have a love, hate relationship with sugar. I fell in love with sugar at an early age. My dad would take us to my aunts house to swim. After our "fun in the sun" he would give each of us $1 to buy snacks with. We would walk down the street to the local food mart and stock up on all kinds of confections. I always bought a Butterfinger candy bar. It was 25 cents and well worth it. A cold drink for anther 25 cents and then a few more lovely confections. To this day Butterfinger is my favorite candy bar.
As I grew older I did learn to control my cravings. But after menopause hit, my cravings got alot worse. And I soon learned the powerful impact sugar was having on my body. I was tired all the time, i gained weight, my skin and face were puffy and red. I developed high blood sugar. My bad habits and my love for sugar were beginning to catch up with me.
So 3 years ago I gave up sugar. I Lost 45 ipunds and felt much better. My clothes fit, my skin looked great and my blood surgar was under control just by diet. But then Covid hit. Somewhere in the midst of Covid I had gained 7 lbs and was eating a little sugar every day. And some days I was eating cake and almond milk ice cream. Hmmm....my face looked awful and puffy. My clothes were tight and I was always tired. Yep! I had given in the to monster called sugar. I had to make some changes fast.
So I started my challenge of no sugar.Yep, no candy, no ice cream, no Peter Pan peanut butter. That was 1 week ago.in one week I have lost 4lbs. My skin looks so much better. My face was no longer puffy. My eating habits are better and my cravings have gone way down. I feel good.
Do you love sugar? For those that do, how do you feel? What is sugar doing to your body? Do you need to loose a few pounds? How is your blood sugar?
Is anyone up for a 3 day challenge? How about no sugar for 3 days. I know the major voting is tomorrow so why don't we start on Wednesday, November 2nd. Just read your labels and do without items with sugar. Meat and vegtables are a good choice.Hide the candy and cookies. No soft drinks. No juice....most have surgar or create natural sugar. Just Give it a try for 3 days and tell me how you feel on day 4. Drinkng water helps, so drink lots. When the cravings hit, go for a walk or eat more protein. Who would like to feel good again? Who would like to join me?
Last blog post I spoke on "What is in Your Wellness Cabinet." Well that wellness cabinet also needs to include your emotional health. Winter is coming. There is less sunshine and more chilly days. The Holidays are upon us, and many people struggle on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Family members close to us are often missing. Some have passed on, some are serving our country and some are estranged. It can be a time of celebration but a time of loneliness for many.
Statistics show that 13% of Americans are on anti-depressants and 21% take Xanax. A whopping 40 million people suffer from a form of anxiety or panic attacks. It is a rise of 64% since 1999 And also 9 million Americans take some type of sleep aid. So what is in your "Emotional Wellness Cabinet?"
I cannot speak to everyones emotional wellness. But I can give some suggestions to help keep your emotions in check. Exercise is good in increasing endorphines. And endorphins make you happy. A brisk walk outside in the sun will help. Also, having some quiet time to yourself can have a calming effect. I love sitting down and just reading a book or my bible. Supplements can improve overall body health and that can have a postive effect on your emotions. Vitamin D and C are a GREAT place to start. Using natural products like herbs and essential oils can offer alternatives to synthetic drugs.
Build an emotional wellness routine.Spend time with your friends and family. Spend time with those you love and who love you. Consider adopting a furry friend. My 3 dogs bring joy to my heart. Enjoy the holidays and reach out to those less fortunate. These are a few ideas. What is in your "emotional wellness cabinet?" What is your "emotional wellness routine?"
Next time we will talk about how to have "a good nights sleep."
The winter months will be here soon. I was one who just waited to get sick and then go to the doctor again, again, and again. Yep! I would end up at the doctor 3 times between September and December. I was one who did not have a wellness plan.
About 5 years ago, after doing some research, I realized I did not have to end up at the doctor and I could actually prepare my body for the winter months. I began to understand how to build my immune system and to stay well. It was at that point that I developed a Wellness Cabinet.
Developing a Wellness Cabinet is not difficult. Simply begin with supplements. Adding Vitamin D3 and Vitamin C supplements is a simple way to begin. Also, add a good antioxidant (mine is pictured above). It will help keep your immune system strong. Drinking water, and staying hydrated will help your body flush out impurities. If you are not feeling well stay home and rest. Fill your body with bone broth, chicken soup and warm herbal tea. Rest is a BIG key to wellness. Do not forget your Diet and what you are putting in your body. Make sure you are getting nutiruents from healthy meats, fruits vegtables and grains.
Over the years my winter wellness cabinet has changed some and my body has gotten better because of it. I no longer go to the doctor 3 times a season and I can enjoy the holidays,and the occasional snow without feeling sluggish and run down.
So...What is in your Wellness Cabinet?
