I don't think I'll get sick again til next year, so that means that I have been sick twice in 2009. Neither time was very bad. Total length of illness was about four days both times. I think that is not at all bad! A huge improvement over the year that I began my healthy lifestyle. At that time I was getting sick on average once a month. Not only that, but when I was not sick I lacked energy. I often just felt lousy even though I wasn't "sick". These days, even when I'm sick, I have a positive attitude and feel good. That sounds funny, but the truth is, that yesterday I had several bouts of coughing. It sucked. But that was all I was dealing with. I didn't like the coughing, but I didn't FEEL bad. I don't know if that makes sense, except to me. It's like even sickness is a different experience now that my body has changed.
Given the dreaded "Swine Flu" and other (supposedly) less sinister types of flu going around, in addition to the normal colds and viruses, I think it is not surprising that I got sick. I have not been so super good on my eating lately, I've been binging something awful on Tings, which, while the bag states that they are good for you, I am fully aware that they are not!
Also, I've had lots of fruit lately in order to get the hemp protein down. I'm sure that fed some yeast, which of course sets up that whole vicious cycle of craving carbs, eating carbs and craving more carbs.
The night before I started coughing I went to a concert in Dallas with my sick daughter.(Marcy Playground - oh yeah!) I was overconfident about my immune status and I even drank two beers (yum). The next day I was coughing a little. I may have even been coughing a little the day of the show. I still felt well and even ran three miles on the treadmill while Reagan was in neurotherapy. The next day I still felt great but was coughing more. It wasn't really until yesterday that I started REALLY coughing and got some congestion. I never ran fever, and I never became so congested as to cause problems breathing and sleeping.
I am hoping to totally kick this today by continuing to flood myself with pH water, green drink and vinegar tonic. I am eating only vegetables and eating whole raw garlic cloves to prevent secondary infection.
This is one heck of a long post about being sick. Over and out!

It's getting near the end of October, which means I am down to 2 months of sugarlessness to go. Fortunately the holidays come at the end of the year, so I've had ten months of sugarlessness to prepare for the temptation.I'm still struggling a bit with the concept of Thanksgiving without pumpkin pie, but the good news is, I don't crave sweets anymore. Certain sweet things look really yummy to me, but I rarely just randomly think that I'd kill for ice cream, or chocolate cake.
I recently added hemp protein powder to my diet. I wanted to cover all the bases in terms of protein since I don't eat much meat. Considering how much I work out I felt like their was a chance I might not be getting enough. The hemp powder goes into fruit smoothies in order to be most palatable. I'm hoping that the increase in fruit consumption won't cause any problems. So far it seems that the smoothies are alkalizing. My pH tests fantastic a couple hours after I drink one. I also feel like I have more stamina since adding it, which is quite awesome.
My weight has been steady around 121 for over a year now. Probably the first time in my life that I can say that - lol
I have been running and swimming a lot lately but not biking at all. So the Monster triathlon on Sunday ought to be interesting!

poor neglected sugarless journal. I should get off my butt and go to bed but for some reason have no ability to do so. So I am posting here. I am STILL sugarless. But I have to admit I am eagerly awaiting the new year so I can eat something BAD. Then I'm sure I'll go right back on this.
I bought some hemp protein powder today and made a smoothie with banana and coconut milk. It tasted pretty good. I have been worried about getting enough protein lately. Don't know if it's warranted but I figure this will ensure that I do.
I registered for the Monster Triathlon but I think Dick might have disputed the charge b/c he didn't know what it was for. I don't know why he wouldn't ask me, he told me I could register. Anyway, I will be quite upset if I don't get to do it. That will be the last triathlon till the freezing cold St paddy's in March.
I think we can get it straightened out but not til the morning as everyone is sleeping, like I should be.

I have seriously neglected this journal! ( Read more... )

Swine Flu: The Reality

by Ross on July 21, 2009

The whole Swine Flu thing is picking up pace again in the news, with the Daily Doom Mail, in particular, running with a series of quite alarmist, but paper-selling 'stories'.

I have two issues with Swine Flu:

1. It is flu. Flu is everywhere. Globally there are over 1 billion cases of flu diagnosed each year. Swine or not, flu is an issue for a lot of people. So is malaria. Over 1 million people die of it each year. Where is the crazy reporting about malaria. Or alcohol related deaths. Or those from smoking. There were 13.4 alcohol-related deaths per 100,000 in the UK in 2006. This year there are 0.05 swine-flu related deaths per 100,000 in the UK. At the moment you are 278 times more likely to die of an alcohol related disease than swine flu.

Or would we rather head to the pub for a pint and a cigarette and have a chat about it instead?

This ridiculously alarmist reporting of 'Swine' flu is causing an obscene amount of worry, Government spending and panic in the general public.

Yes, it might be a problem for a very small number of the population, but how much more productive would it be to focus on prevention?
2. The answer seems to be drugs & pumping people full of vaccines and antibiotics. MILLIONS OF PEOPLE HAVE FLU ALL YEAR ROUND. Every year. All the time. Why do we suddenly need to vaccinate everyone?!

Oh, of course, to earn Roche and GlaxoSmithKlein a healthy fat pocket.

Let's focus on prevention rather than waiting and then drugging. It is really, really easy to give your body everything it needs to successfully fight flu. Swine or not!

The Real Swine Flu Picture

So the papers all picked up on the potential 64,000 cases story. Here is what one of the UK's leading Flu experts makes of it all:

"A potential death rate of one in 200 cases has been mentioned but that is for the really serious cases. The real rate will probably be less than one in 1,000 and the people who are badly affected will be incredibly unlucky. Many people won't even realise they have swine flu - around 30 per cent of those who get it won't have any symptoms at all.

Most people will only have mild symptoms - the body's natural defences will take care of the flu and natural antibodies will prove to be the best prevention. But it's worth remembering that seasonal flu can kill 10,000 people every year in this country, although they tend to be the weak or elderly.

Note:

* The body's natural defences will take care of the flu
* NATURAL antibodies will prove to be the best prevention
* Many people won't even realise they have Swine Flu
* 10,000 people die from flu EVERY YEAR in the UK

10,000 every year. So far, in the 3 months since we've been hearing about Swine Flu, 29 people in the UK have died of H1N1 related illnesses. Not necessarily directly because of the flu strain itself, but they died while the strain was in their body.

However, that does not mean that there is no danger. I am not claiming us to all be invincible - BUT there are things we should be doing to prevent ourselves from contracting ANY SICKNESS OR DISEASE! Swine Flu, normal flu, heart disease, cancer, diabetes or any other sickness or disease.

There are 61,000,000 million people in the UK and 29 have died from Swine Flu so far. That gives you a 0.0000048% chance of dying from it so far. But I imagine that you are the sort of person who wants to have a strong immune system, loads of energy, strong bones, strong muscles, and a big strong heart regardless of this global obsession with one strain of influenza.
Steps to Protect Yourself From Illnesses (influenza included)

To really give your immune system a boost and protect yourself from illness you just need to do the simple things. The same simple things that will help you lose weight, have more energy, get rid of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, increase your mental clarity, lose the need for afternoon naps, clear your skin, clear your head etc.

You just need to start looking after yourself, properly.

1. Start hydrating. Really hydrating. Most people try to follow the Government advice of 8 glasses per day. Firstly, I really believe that this is nowhere near enough (even if you are really sedentary your body uses more than that each day just keeping you alive) and secondly most people only get to 3 or 4 glasses. You should be aiming for at least 2.5 litres per day, and potentially up to 4 litres. Make it good, clean, filtered water.
2. Start eating well. By 'eating well' I mean loads of greens, vegetables, salads, low sugar fruits, healthy oils, nuts, seeds, complex carbs etc. Give your body the simple tools it needs to look after you.
3. Stop eating sh*t. By 'eating sh*t' I mean chocolate, crisps, chips, sweets, sugars, caffeine, dairy, fatty meat, alcohol, excessive bread, pasta and other white stuff, biscuits, puddings, fried food, refined food, microwaved food etc. Stop polluting your body with crap. And cigarettes. Nothing surpresses your immune system like 20 Bensons, half a dozen pints and a packet of crisps.
4. Start exercising. If you don't do a lot of it then start really light, but get out there, get some fresh air, get your body and your blood pumping. At least start walking. This gives your blood and lymphatic system a flush through and keeps your immune system nice and strong

This is all common sense, easy stuff. Even if you only do this 50-70% of the time then you're really moving in the right direction and giving your body everything it needs to keep you happy and healthy.

Well my almost fifteen month streak of not being sick has come to an end. But I have to say it took quite the onslaught of health busters to bring it down. Thursday - Sun was a bit brutal, and then Sunday night hormones struck and deprived me of sleep that probably would have warded off the enemy, but I ended up with maybe 2 hours. So after that I was tired but functional. Then last night I started to feel like I was getting a cold, and sure enough today I feel pretty crappy.
I suppose this is the best place to confess that on Sunday, following the triathlon, Reagan and I ate lunch at IHOP and I had a short stack of pancakes (emphasis on the word CAKE) with the horrible IHOP syrup. I had a salad first, and I didn't finish them, but still, I hold them TOTALLY to blame for my illness. And I feel like a cheat besides. That syrup is totally pure sugar.
But I am back on track at home now, and I anticipate my cold will be a short one. I am currently drinking a homemade green drink made out of cucumber, brocolli, romaine leaves( for lack of greener greens) ginger, tomato, celery and lemon juice. I am happily coughing up crap from my lungs and even feeling a bit less fatigued.

Great day workout wise. Swam 1350 this morning including 700 warm up. Then tonight I went to the track and ran 3 miles. The track was redone and is made of crushed tires. It is so nice and bouncy to run on. I could have run and run and run.

I've been making wraps using tomato basil tortillas, spinach, avocado, tomato, red onion, cucumber and green garlic dressing. Very yummy!
Night before last I did a brick workout. I biked 7 miles then ran 1.2 miles, just went to the bathroom and changed shoes in between. It was a good workout. I felt great. I biked on the frontage road for 35 and North Tarrant. The sun had already set so the heat wasn't too beastly and there was minimal traffic.
Tonight I will go to the track and run 3 miles.

I am trying to get myself in gear for the Hermann Memorial Triathlon this Sunday in Sugarland. I haven't been biking at all lately. I am really scared to ride on the roads for the most part and that keeps me from getting out there. It was nice before we had so many stores up by 35 but now the traffic up there is really frightening. It's too bad because the hills from the 35 overpass make a great workout. What I need to do is get up early and get out there, but right now I have to be at the pool at 7 for Y swimming.
I have been swimming a lot though. 6 out of 7 days last week. Reagan and I ran at the Fossil Ridge track a couple times last week.
The end of June is coming up which will mark halfway through my sugarless year. I can't believe it. It really hasn't been that hard. This morning I had a spinach salad with avocado, tomato and red onions. It was delicious and I followed that up with broccoli w/ lemon juice and sea salt.
I am still working on getting back to a good place from vacation which was a downfall of sorts in that I had a lot of high sodium food. It could have been worse though, and I feel good. I've been sleeping well the past few weeks which is so nice. Having to get up early for swimming is a good thing. I wish I had the discipline to get up at 6:15 every morning. It really does make for a more productive day. Speaking of which, I have about a thousand chores I could be doing!

This first week home from vacation we have had to get up early for swim practice everyday. Afterward we go swim at our pool b/c the Y has put swim team in a crappy pool in Woodland Springs that is not even 25 yds. It is good b/c I have swum four days this week. That's a record of late.
This morning I swam 1500 yds. We go to Houston for the triathlon next weekend. I really need to get out on the bike. Reagan and I ran last night at Fossil Ridge track. We waited til 9:15 but it was still HOT. Sort of hypnotic and soothing though, running in the dark.
I have been trying to be very very good in order to get my pH back to a good place. It's getting better but still testing acidic in the am. I've been chugging the green drink and eating lots of salads.
I feel good. Swimming outdoors in the sun kind of wipes me out but I love it.
The move to charge for guests at our pool complex has proven a great decision. The pool has not been crowded and it is so lovely.
I am working on getting psyched up for school. Still haven't registered for summer 2, I better get off my butt and do it.

My blood pressure seems to be back to normal. It leveled out yesterday at 112/65 which is just right. This morning I took it after swimming and it was 91/57 which is normal for after swimming. I haven't taken it again today.
I have been alkalizing pretty heavily today. My pH tested 7.2 after lots of green drink and salad, but just a bit ago was back to acid. It will take awhile to get rid of all the vacation junk.
I feel good though!

I got back last night from an awesome two week vacation. Everyday was great fun, but unfortunately it was difficult to maintain an alkaline lifestyle on the road. I did pretty well, had packed veggie chips to help with boredom eating while driving, which helped, and some avocados, tomatoes and brought along my sea salt, green drink and ph water. However, until I got to my brother's house in Colorado I didn't go into a grocery store and buy vegetables.
Spending four days at Cedar Point was amazing but I had two days of Panda Express, one day of pizza, and one day of Subway. As the weeks wore on I continued to eat at least one bad meal per day. Add to that 12 days of no real exercise ( I did get exercise in Alamosa hiking up the sand dunes and running one morning but that was at the end of the trip) it was really a recipe for disaster and I overestimated my health going into it.
To make matters worse when we got home yesterday I had Dick take me to Posados and had a huge plate of enchiladas with rice and refried beans, after chips and salsa and flour tortillas dipped in queso.
So this morning I took my blood pressure - 128 over 94. Yikes. I have been really good today, drinking ph water, homemade green drink in the juicer, powdered green drink and eating avocados and salad.
When I took it again four hours later it was down to 124 over 80. I went to the gym and swam 1100 yds then saunaed for 30 minutes and it went way down 87 over 61, which usually happens after swimming and sauna. I will take it again before I go to be to get a better idea of where it really is.
I know the spike was due to diet as I had been monitoring my bp obsessively for over a year and had averaged out to about 100/65 for many many months. This is too coincidental, and I saw smaller spikes following other minor infractions over the past year. But it hasn't been this high since two years ago July when I started all this healthy stuff.
So now I know I can't get slack.
I didn't eat sugar but the sodium is definitely a huge nono for me. I have a triathlon in two weeks in Houston, so I better get a grip.

I have not been posting enough. But I will say that last night I stir-fried asparagus, roma tomatoes and red onions in olive oil with cilantro and sea kelp. It was DELICIOUS. Roma tomatoes are so yummy, I've been using them more lately for heated dishes.
We are going on vacation in five days so the next big challenge to my sugarlessness. No indulging in an ice cream at Cedar Point. :(
It doesn't really frighten me, I'm actually more concerned about staying alkaline because of having to eat out so much.
My weight has been stable at around 120 for many months now. Something that has never been the case in my life. If I don't eat veggie chips and mexican food I drop to 118. I'm still working on building muscle.

I ate pancakes today and then went to spin class. Ugh. Did I ever feel sick. My body is starting to reject even not so horrible bad food. I did make it through class but it wasn't fun. I swam afterward, not a lot but got in the pool and did about 850 yards.  

I certainly have been neglecting this journal.
School is almost over so I imagine I'll be posting more then.
I am still sugarless. I am actually 1/3 of the way through the year. Four months and 1 week. And Happy Birthday Chewy!
I had a great swim yesterday and then ran a mile when I came home. First time under ten minutes - in my life!!!!
Next triathlon is May 17 - in Rockwall - but fortunately it's Ironhead, so packet pickup is in Arlington. Yay.
I am excited though because this course is the same as my second ever triathlon in 2003, the one where I sucked because I was sick and took cold medicine before the race. Never do that.
The bike is longer, 14 miles but the run is shorter, 2.9 miles. So we'll see how I do. This is also the race where I had to pee so bad during the run that I had to walk. The ONLY triathlon I've ever walked in.
And Dick got my bike computer fixed, so yay for that too.

I wonder how they come up with the names for these things?
Well, my goal in this tri was to have a good swim. A good swim defined as - swim like you are a person who knows how to swim and who has the appropriate endurace to manage a 275 yd swim in a swimming pool! lol ( Read more... )

Well, I resisted my first birthday cake and ice cream of the year. It was hard. I LOVE cake and ice cream!
I had a great dinner tonite. An orange pepper cut up with roasted pepper hummus and a salad with greens, pepper, tomato, onion, peas and a little bit of shredded cheese. I ate the lettuce out of it and then put the rest of the stuff on a baked potato with more peas and dressing and cheese. It was yummy!
I had a great workout today too. Swam first, about 1300 yards. I practiced going under the lane ropes since no one else was in the pool. I got to sauna for over thirty minutes which was nice. When I got home I had planned to go out on my bike. I got on and halfway down our street realized I forgot my water bottle and that my bike computer was on the fritz. So it kind of took the wind out of my bike sails, and I decided against doing the hills today. But I rode probably about six miles and really worked. Spin class has really changed the way I ride, I'm much more aggressive now. I never used do stand up, now I just naturally do it instead of shifting down.
As I was heading home I got to thinking, what the heck, I'll throw on my running shoes and run a mile when I get back. So I changed my shoes, went to the bathroom and then ran a mile. I felt good considering I had just got off the bike.
So I was fired up when I came in and did some crunches and stretches. Now, hopefully I'll get to sleep!

I'm just trying to keep up logging my workouts. This is the only place I keep track right now.Yesterday I swam 1550 before I picked up Reagan from school. The gym is only about four minutes from the school but damned if it didn't take me fifteen to get there thanks to the dang traffic lights. Sheesh.
Today I ran for 30 minutes. I usually have a distance goal or follow a route but lately I've taken to doing "out and backs". Just running for so many minutes in one direction and then turning around and going back.
I really can't wait til the cave man triathlon. I am so hoping to see an improvement in my swimming. Just two weeks away!

I ran a 5K on Saturday morning. Victory Over Violence in Ft Worth. It was a nice course that started at the Duck Pond in Trinity Park and went through part of the Botanic Gardens. I did pretty well, 32.09 which is about a minute slower than my best but for the amount of running I've done since Christmas I'm happy with it.
I was 8th out of 36 old ladies in my age group. 378th out of 832.
Today I was very very tired because I still am not sleeping for shit. I worked on my informational presentation and had planned to take my algebra test but I was just too tired to operate my brain.
But I did go to the gym and swam 1550 before I picked up Reagan. Didn't get to sauna b/c I didn't have time, but the swim was great. 1000 non stop is getting so easy now! I did the 1000 then I did a 500 ladder with 15 seconds rest in between swims. It all took me between 45 and 50 minutes which means I am getting faster. I am excited about this next triathlon because it will be the first swim in a short pool since August last year. I'm hoping to have a better time or at least have a nice smooth swim with no incidents! I better not jinx myself!
Tomorrow is three months and 1 week of sugarless. Still going strong!
To bed with me.

Yesterday I had a good workout. I went to the gym planning to do the spin class but I got there right at 5:30 - damn parking lot, no spaces - and there were no bikes. So I decided to swim since I had planned to swim after spin. I thought I would only have 1/2 an hour b/c aqua fit usually comes at six, so I was a little bummed. Aqua fit never showed up though, so I got to swim for an hour. I think I did 1650. I was shooting for 2000 but my feet started cramping and I had to stop. I don't know what's up with that but I've been taking magnesium last couple days - usually that helps.
When I got home I ran two miles and I felt FANTASTIC! Why can't I always feel like that when I run? I never felt winded, kept a decent pace and did speed spurts. It was awesome.
This is probably a good time to confess that I weenied out on the five k last Sat.. It was REAALLY cold and WINDY as all get out, and 5ks are a dime a dozen, entry fee wasn't much, I picked up my packet so I at least got the shirt and I have a plan to do one this Saturday. So it's all good. If it had been a tri I would have gone...it would have sucked massively but I'd have done it. But a 5k? eh.
And the big news is I AM 1/4th done with my sugarless year!!!! YAY!!!!!!! 3 down ,9 to go!