Thursday Thirst

So I am on day 4 of no sugar.  Think no added sugar, not zero sugar.  I still have 2 pieces of fruit a day.  Like in my smoothies, or an apple.  But I have it all, the fiber and all.  Any doubts at all as to how bad processed food is for us...just check out this article.  I could not believe it.  It is crazy.
https://www.eatthis.com/unhealthiest-foods-2018/?utm_source=msn&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=msn-feed

There is a salad in this list that has 1000 calories!  WOW.  And if we think that advertisements do not mislead us, we are naïve.  Many of the things in the list might be things we try to be more healthy than what we really want (fruit smoothies, protein bar, Lean Cuisine, salad).  I would rather just try to eat whole food, so I know what is in the food and it is cheaper anyway.  Then, if I really want to try the candy bar, I have the candy bar...but not this month.  I am trying to go one month with no sugary treats, to see if it makes me feel better.  My tummy has been hurting a little more lately.

I think it is a combination of not getting the level of rest and sleep I was getting before I went back to work.  After all, I am driving an extra 10 hours a week alone.  Not to mention the 40 hours I am working and the stress of it.  I will be glad when Sept gets here.

I was looking at my FB timeline and a memory popped up that yesterday exactly one year ago was the last day in our City House.  We stayed 3 months in a noise, disgusting hotel, then retired.  We travel quite a bit, did lots of projects around the house...I read a devotional earlier in the week that said when we feel feelings, just be in it.  I learned that years ago for some things I went through as a young adult (normal life stuff, relationships, heartaches, job issues, disappointments) but when it came to a more gradual, should-have-been-all-positive aspect about retiring, I jumped the gun and had to jump into action.  I won't be fooled next time. 

After this gig, I plan to take off the rest of fall and all winter and look at things in the late winter/spring.  Maybe get a part time job or volunteer, or both. 

I think DH is doing his own adjusting too.  Finding himself busier with me gone, of course, but he has been checking in with his sister, helping at her store and yesterday met his brother halfway between city and retirement town and they played golf. 

Anyway, have a great day - it is Thursday.  Weekend, then short week next week! 

Stories from the Vault - Postponed

I referenced a couple of stories about my experience with strangers while driving - 2 of them I can think of off the top of my head.  I will write about them tomorrow.

Today, I want to write about 2 families on my mind...I posted a LONG post.  Then came back and curated considerably. 

Relative with stage 4 cancer diagnosis.  She is doing amazing.  Mass in her lung is gone, as are the other tumors in liver, lymph nodes and couple other places.  It is a miracle! 

She can barely breathe, so tenuous her understanding and comprehension.  She says she will celebrate at her 1 year mark...So amazing. 

On the other hand...her son is in his 20's.  Did not know his father.  He is very smart, but just no "gumption".

Relative had some issues in her life, she will be the first to admit.  But she always worked hard.  She had a great father.  At one point she was very successful in her career, making over 6 figures.  But after some relationship issues, a big geographic move and some job insecurity...ended up essentially scraping by job to job, no savings left, and barely kept her house, which is pretty run down and too big for her to properly care for. 

Well, when she got ill.  Her family has tried to be supportive.  We all tried to be there for her and J her son.  We all tried to gently comfort J while simultaneously encouraging him to "man up", the brothers tried to mentor him.  The problem is...we are all located distantly, busy working/caring for our families and have not been around him enough to naturally foster such personal relationships.  It is hard to "start" now from many miles away.  Any ideas?

At one point, she even encouraged us via group text to not let him feel abandonded, should she die.  I have tried a couple of times, not really knowing what to do and not getting any response in return.  What can I do now?  I admit, I feel distant partly because I just don't respect his bad choices.  But I do sincerely pray for and want the best for them both.

Well, evidently now the son and his mother had a falling out.  She explained that after he left in a hurry, she inspected his room and found it covered in trash.  Items she found troubling.  She even texted me pictures - it was shocking to me.  Mom wants to sell this house that is too big and get moved into a smaller place but she worries about J.  J meanwhile is just piling trash in his room and not helping enough.  I told her (gently and with great emphasis on the disclaimer) - I HAVE NO CHILDREN - that she needs to cut the cord for his own good too. 

So, clearly this guy has issues...it is really sad. 

Another sort of related topic...I have a family member whose husband was in a bad car accident recently.  Likely his fault,  their only car.  He is similar in affect to J, smart and wants to tell you how smart he is, sort of anti society.  Well he was hurt badly.  I think the passenger and the other driver are OK. 

Many issues about accident I wont go into...What if S and JD have no money saved up for emergencies?  Oh, these poor choices.  These 2 examples are not isolated...it is sad and scary. 

Lord if someone is hurting today, please visit them and embrace and comfort them.  Amen.

Did I mention that neither J or JD have any spirituality - no experience in nature, no meditation/solitude, no exercise, no artistic outlet.  No humility, I guess.  I think my gumption came from humility, which unfortunately came from humiliation - my father's way of cultivating obedience.  But does it have to come from there?  Do we have to feel small before we can see the big picture? 

C for Choices

http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/?m=1
I got my labs the weekend I was out of state for a wedding.  My numbers all look really good.  It made me think about personal choices.  I have been improving my eating slowly and sometimes too slowly, out of a desire to be more healthy and stay trim, but also because of all my stomach woes.  In my search to find answers about my stomach problems, I fluctuate between the hope that I can find medicine that helps and being able to find a lifestyle/eating formula that helps.  If medicine helps, then I don't have to be personally accountable and I don't have to feel like I have failed.  But, the longer I travel this journey, the more I am understanding that what I put into my body affects me, just like it affects anyone - our health.  But almost immediately I can feel horrible and be sick for hours or days.  So, I keep trying to tweak it.  My cholesterol, good and bad are good, my glucose is good.  My blood pressure good.  My vitamin D still on track going on 2nd year in a row.  My weight is good.  I am going to keep trying to put one foot in front of the other.  After all, isn't it better that I do have accountability and realize how I feel is in my own control and directly related to the choices I make?
Here are some of the changes I have made over the years to improve my health.  I exercise (walking and yoga).  I eat at home mostly.  I limit carbs and processed food.  Carbs i eat are potatoes, quinoa, rice and home made bread/biscuits.  I eat more vegetables, fruit and lean meat.  I have pork or beef maybe once a week.  I cut dairy 2 years ago.  I limit sugar, but when I have sugar I have a small amount of what i crave.  I eat my potatoes i love, but switch to sweet potatoes half the time.  I stopped drinking soda 2 years ago.  No artificial sweetener.  I have been doing intermittent fasting since Nov and feel it is working for me - i skip breakfast.  For the past year or so, I have been eating very small evening meal - sometimes broth (google bone broth) or smoothie only.  In my smoothies I put bunch of spinach, ground flaxseed/chia seed, vegan protein and fruit.  I blend with almond or coconut milk.  Only caffeine is 2 cups of coffee in the morning.  i put a mix of nutrients in it that include cacao, lacuna, collagen, maca and coconut sugar - along with spices like nutmeg, cinnamon and cardamom.  I enjoy it so much, it has helped me cut back to almost no more artificial powder creamer (i know, i know).  Every day i have 1 green tea and take vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements and after much research and trial and error, have found a combination that helps me feel my best (including vit C, vit D, B chewables, probiotic, digestive enzymes, fish oil, calcium, zinc, magnesium and special eye supplement).  On Friday and Saturday I pretty much eat what I want.  The rest of the week is pretty regimented. 
What are you doing to be healthy?