Archive for the ‘General Info’ Category
New Outlook For The New Year
Yes ! a new outlook for the new year for my health and to start off the new year – we are heading to our cottage to re-decorate with some rustic log furniture that we had bought last month. The cottage will be used for our weekend getaway once a month – or whenever we get chance – especially during the summer. We are finally closing the cottage down for the winter and will be running it in the spring. We feel that by using more of the cottage – it would relieve our stress and make us do things together instead of just going on the computer always. Rustic log furniture are great because it gives us so much warmth in our life and we feel like we are living harmoniously. The rustic log furniture blend into our cottage so well – we just loved it.
I Wanna Sue My Doctor
I’m sure you’ve heard people telling you this more than once in your lifetime – and just because doctors has malpractice insurance – it really doesn’t mean that he doesn’t mind getting sued. I know very little about suing my doctors – because usually i get over it – after I’m upset with it for a while. Just like the last time I was admitted to the hospital and the doctor insisted that i had a bowel obstruction – and I knew it was food poisoning. And another time – a doctor said I had appendicitis but in fact it was something else. So of course, my appendicitis were taken out but it was rupturing or anything – but a cut was a cut right? yes ! i was mad – but no i didn’t sue the doctor after all – they symptoms were there. But I can understand if someone had died – and it was a mistake by the doctor – yes – I’m sure someone would have sued for malpractice. There are a lot of times I don’t feel that my previous doctors had made the right diagnosis – but not every patient is like myself – so yes! some insist on suing the doctor for the slightest reason – so yes! i’ve heard many times from friends and co-workers – that they want to sue their doctors.
Chronic Stress
What is chronic stress? and how do one know if you have chronic stress? well, according to the doctors – chronic stress is when one is stress with emotional problems and at a prolong time. It is when the person suffering from it – feels that he or she has no control over it. Chronic stress if not treated because it involves a certain release of chemical in your system thus causing mental health issues.
People with chronic stress always feels that they are losing control – they are short of breathe when they are faced with a situation – even with lateness. Some of the signs to look out for with chronic stress people is when they are losing a lot of hair all of a sudden, have a lot of mouth sores – heart problems, IBS – or someone who is burping a lot or farting alot – someone who has vaginal infection all the time, skin problems or when one finds it hard to breathe at times. So if you notice your spouse having such system or even yourself – be honest about it and please seek help.
Keeping Healthy During Winter
Winter is definitely here – we’ve had rain – the wind and the snow – and it’s getting colder every day and nights are longer now. I tell Missy Moo to keep warm -when she is at school or outdoors and when she is indoors – I try to heat up the room that we are in warm. The only problem I have keeping her warm is in the store. You see – to heat the store – it will cost us an arm and a leg – heat and oil is very expensive here and we don’t get a rebate like the ones that ct electricity gives out to the good people in Connecticut because we are a business. But we have to keep somewhat warm – and if I can have it – I will leave the store temperature up at 25 degree Celsius the entire time we are at the store but of course that is not possible as the bill will definitely kill us.
So how does one keep healthy – without overpaying the power bill or oil bill? layers – yes! you heard right in layers – I dress Missy Moo and myself up in layers – that way if we are cold we can put on another layer and if we are hot take off one. All of Missy Moo’s pants has fleece lining – now that would definitely keep her a lot warmer than her friends. Unfortunately, adults can’t get that kinda pants – else I would too. How are you keeping healthy during Winter? share your tips please.
Fight Fatigue
I kid you not – I’m fighting fatigue and I don’t even know why I feel so tired every day – it’s like I’m not getting a lot done and I’m dozing off ! What the hell right??!!!??? As I am writing this – I’m yawning and it’s not like I don’t get enough sleep – and it seems like the longer hours I sleep – the more tired I become – so what’s wrong with me!
Is it the food that I’m eating? is it because I’m not doing enough exercise? or is it because I’m not getting a lot of fresh air? what is the cause of fatigue I asked my doctor. And according to her – it could be stress, exercises, food or even health problems. So I’m beginning my fight with fatigue by doing a different exercise.
I’m going to go back to my 7 hrs of sleep a day – because 8 hrs seems to cause some trouble for me. And now that I’m taking yoga – I’m going to do some relaxing breathing exercises as well when I’m at work about 10 – 20 mins every day. I’m going to cut down on my coffee by drinking only 1 cup a day instead of 2 – and I’m not going to take any sweets like my cream puff anymore. I will also up my vitamins – to see if it will help. So from today onwards – I’m going to try this for 2 weeks and see if I am still feeling fatigue.
Health Test I Take Religiously
Someone asked me – that since I’m a diabetic – what kind of health test do I need to go for yearly? But truthfully, it’s not because of my diabetes that I go for my health test religiously moreso, it is because I want to stay healthy to live long enough to see Missy Moo grow up and get married and have her own kids. I want to be there for her when she have her first baby – to help her and to teach her and to be there for her.
So I take my health test religiously and seriously. And some of them is my Pap Smear – although I don’t have to anymore because I had my full hysterectomy a few years ago. Then there is the Breast Exam – that I do yearly with my family doctor or a women’s clinic. I also do my blood pressure every visit with my family doctor, my eye test yearly as well – and not forgetting to get all my immunization yearly. Of course, there is the cholesterol test that one needs to go as well and even though I think I’m doing alright in that department – I still ask for it. There – you have all the tests I do religiously – what about you?
Cold Sores
It’s truly sad when you see a young child having cold sore – because I’ve heard that they were darn painful! The other day – a kid came into our store – and he had cold sores – and Missy Moo was playing with him. I was a bit worried because you know when kids play – their saliva sometimes goes flying around and land on the other person. Sure we hope it doesn’t land on Missy Moo’s mouth or lips – but who’s to say it wouldn’t right?
Cold sores are contagious and they are known as oral herpes. Cold sores can be spread when there is a broken skin on the other person or thru’ kissing or sharing a fork, spoon or knife. Cold sores can be easily spread thru’ a parent who has cold sore and kisses their child. Once you have cold sores – it never goes away – even though it can be treated – it can be passed on to another person.
To prevent getting cold sores – you have to avoid kissing one with cold sore and also avoid sharing forks, spoon or a straw with one who has a cold sore. So I wasn’t being paranoid – I was trying to keep Missy Moo safe.
Baking Diabetic
One often wonder – can a diabetic eat cakes and desserts right? I too wonder myself – most times – I do cheat and eat half a cream puff every now and then too – but if you are up to it – you can actually bake your own diabetic cakes and baked goods. I had been quite gungho with my intake of my sugar when it comes to coffee – I don’t even take a substitute now but when it comes to baking a cake or making baked goods – you have to have some form of sugar right? Yes! and for those who’ve tried using sugar substitutes – you will know that it tastes different. So what do one do?
I was taught to use vanilla in my baking recipes – pure vanilla extract is what i use now – and you can get it from your local health store. And since I am using sugar substitutes – I need to also flatten the dough before baking as sugar substitutes prevents the cookie dough from spreading. And if you are making chocolate chip cookies or anything chocolate – use cold brewed coffee – to replace the liquid you need to use in your recipe – thus sharpening the chocolate taste in your cookie. Create volume by using whipped egg whites in place of whole eggs. Use two egg whites for every egg called for in the original recipe. So there – diabetic baking is a lot harder and more work – but then you don’t have to feel sinful after eating your home baked diabetic cookies. Yay!
Insulins & Diabetic Medications
When I was told that I had Type 2 diabetes – and insulin was the way to go – I was devastated ! but I didn’t think that my diabetic was that bad – that I had to be dependent on insulin immediately. I don’t blame you if you feel the same way – but that doesn’t mean that I didn’t take any medication – in fact I insisted on taking meds right away.
Some people would avoid taking diabetes medication like a plague and hope that it would go away – but in fact – you and I know that it’s not that easy. Mr Moo’s uncle who refused to take anything for his diabetes – died very young – and definitely not called for. He left his wife and 3 sons – and one just got married last summer and another this summer. I for one – wants to see Missy Moo get married and if I needed to do anything to stay healthy I would. Type 2 diabetes is a progressive illness – and if you refused to take medication or insulin – then you are on your way to your grave. How sad would the people you leave behind – how painful it is for them – when your kid won’t be able to walk down the aisle with you there.
I know many people have concerns about the meds – like metformin – causing your kidney to fail – or the cost of it – but really these are only excuses. Promising to lose weight as well as watching one’s diet – don’t really eliminate diabetes – it can help – but not all. So please talk to your doctor about your concern – if you are worried about the cost – there are programs in Canada – that can help you with it. No excuses now!
Hiking For Health
Missy Moo wants us to buy her a metal detectors garrett so that she can go hiking with her friends and grampie. Grampie promised that he would go a long with them – so that they can hunt for some treasures in an old path down by the old train track. Mr Moo wasn’t going to get her one at first – because the one that Grampie has is very expensive – but we found one that was within our budget at the local electronic store here – so she is all excited about her hiking trip this weekend. If the weather continues to be good – she can go do her treasure hunting with her Grampie and Grammie – it would be good exercise not only for her but her grandparents as well and they can spend quality time together. Knowing Missy Moo, I know she will have lots of fun with her new toy – because when she was younger – she loved collecting stones – so this is a new hobby for her – and hopefully, she make use of the metal detectors garrett to make it worth buying it for her.
Vacation
The outlaws just informed me during Thanksgiving supper that we were invited for another wedding next year – and the entire family will be going to New Brunswick for the wedding of the cousin. But this time, they are not going to stay in a hotel – since the entire family from down here is going – they are looking for houses for rent for a week and treat that as a summer vacation. It’s a good way for the entire clan across Canada and United States to get together. So they want us to plan our vacation time around the wedding as well. I would love to go – since I haven’t been to New Brunswick for a vacation except for a drive thru’ while going to Maine, so that would be very nice. Plus everyone needs a vacation every now and then to relax and I love family gatherings and BBQs. I told the outlaws that I wasn’t going to be cleaning house while on vacation – so if they are looking for a rental house for the vacation or a seaside apartment – they have to make sure there is maid service as well.
Tooth Decay In Children
If you have a child that only drinks chocolate milk like mine – then I’m sure you at one time or another wondered if the chocolate milk is going to cause tooth decay right? I did too – worried I was till I read an article that chocolate milk is very unlikely to cause decay. It has to do with the tooth friendly coca and milk nutrients that offset the sugar in the chocolate milk. But taking a lot of juices and pop drinks will definitely erode the enamel of the kid’s tooth. Cavity is more prone on children who consume lots of juices and pop.
Getting Some Good Sleep
Missy Moo had been waking up every now and then in the middle of the night and coming to our bed to sleep. Even though it’s easy to get her into her own bed a little bit after – I find it hard to go back to sleep and thus, do not get enough rest. That’s suxs big time – because I become I zombie for days. As for why it doesn’t bother Mr Moo? he’s oblivious when Missy Moo comes to our bed and can turn around and fall straight back to sleep in seconds – literally seconds. Sometimes, I’m so mad at him for being able to go back to sleep so easily – I wanna smack him up – hahaha!! but studies shows that women with less sleep are more irrtable and stressed than men. So it’s time for the men to step up ! Going to have a talk with Mr Moo about this wake up – make sure he does the waking up – so that my sleep will not be interrupted.
Facebook Your Health
Apparently social networking is good for your health these days – according to some epidemiologists, they are using twitter, facebook and places like google to track information on your health. From common flu to dengue fever – it helps to to see where the spread is and track them and hopefully influence changes in the future for any health issue. So now you have an excuse to be on the computer if the wife starts screaming at you for being online for a long time.
Preventing Diabetes Type 2
Had I known that eating walnuts – oily fish and flax seed can prevent diabetes type 2 – I would have eaten more of it. I had thought that Omega 3 fatty acids, flax seed and walnuts are good for the heart but now the experts say that folks with higher concentration of omega 3 fatty acids in their blood had less chances of developing diabetes. And truth be told before becoming a diabetic – i rarely eat any of the above. Darn! So for those who are afraid of getting diabetes – please eat a lot more oily fish – walnuts and flax-seed.
You Don’t Need To Look Frumpy Girl!
I tell all my pregnant girlfriends – they don’t need to look frumpy or clumsy when they are pregnant – because maternity dresses are not made the same way they were during our parents time. I loved it when I see a pregnant woman taking care of herself and dressing up well. As for me – when I was pregnant with Missy Moo – i was sick all the time – and not just morning sickness and the only time that would make me really happy was when i had to dress up and go out. I didn’t have many maternity dresses because there were no maternity stores here – but these days – one can order them online – and some even have shipping free as well. Now you can buy jeans, evening dresses, tops and bottoms at reasonable prices. I loved my maternity bottoms – I still have them now – they carried me from 3months pregnant to 9 months – I loved the material and you can wash it like normal. So gals – you don’t need to look frumpy when you are pregnant – some people don’t want to get pregnant because they can’t dress up – but you are wrong gal! you can still look your best.
Bowflex Home Gym
So I had a chance to get a bowflex home gym from the local yard sale – as you can see its not a very huge machine and you can even store it away if you are not using it. So I decided to check it out – since the spouse was interested in flexing his muscles as well. Normally, these machines are a few thousand dollars but this used one is going for $600 – so that’s the reason why I wanted to get it. Alas, some of the bearings need changing because it wasn’t running as smoothly as a new one – I was told by the now owner that bearings don’t cost very much – and I can get them online anytime and fix the problem. Having said that – he was willing to give us a further discount on it if we decided to take it but what kind of bearings do we need to buy? or can any bearings do it ? if we dismantle the machine – would we know how to put it back together? and since the spouse is so busy – will the bowflex sit in the box for a few months or even a year before he gets to it? So we had to give it a past this time round – so sad! now if I had someone who knew how to fix the bearings – or tune it – that would be a totally different story.
Medicine Cabinet At Work
We don’t have a medicine cabinet at work – so we stored all our usual emergency stuff in the washroom at the store – but we found out quickly that it can be quite inconvenient and embarrassing as I have my personal stuff in there. So when I received some Target coupons the other day – I decided to invest in a real medicine cabinet – that way – when a customer/s need some emergency stuff - the spouse don’t have to rummage thru’ my personal stuff in the washroom. Thanks to the coupons – I didn’t have to spend so much on the medicine cabinet and even bought some allergy medication for the store.
Happy Meals = Healthier Meals @ Mickey D?
So Macdonald’s announced that they are providing our children a healthier meal – that still involves 500 calories a meal – hardly any healthier for a 7 years old you would think. But having said that – we do have to give our kids some junk food right ? yes, kids need to have some junk every now and then and shouldn’t we the parents be responsible for our kid’s diet instead of making Macdonald’s change their menu – to make us think that bad parents are good ones?
Missy Moo eats fries and nuggets every now and then – she wants the fries more than the nuggets and the toy and yes we are lucky because she never ask for a lot of junk food. But we also make sure that she gets her exercise – she drinks lots of water and no pop – and lots of running around. So Macdonald’s may be changing the happy meals in Fall but it’s still up to us parents to do the right thing and not push the fast food restaurant to do surface changes.
No More BuckWheat
What a bummer! no more soba for me from now on I guess – I just found out that buckwheat noodles or any thing with buckwheat just bother the hell outta my stomach. So after several days of testing it out – I finally decided that it is buckwheat soba that is causing me all these grief. So goodbye soba ! goodbye buckwheat – and did i tell you that cold soba is my favorite?
So this is what I found out – that some people cannot tolerate buckwheat – so I’m not the only one. I think what happened to me is – I can’t digest the soba – made outta buckwheat – and I’m greedy most times – and even though buckwheat is very healthy – I can’t eat it no more. Just for everyone’s info – buckwheat is not a grain – it’s a knotweed – a smartweed.
