Reflecting on recent conversations about mood and season, and about vitamin D, and about cold therapy, i began to speculate on ways to improve health, well-being and -- you guessed it -- weight-loss.
The stream of consciousness goes something like this: i can only benefit from being in the sun when it's not very hot because i don't metabolize heat well; i'm therefore obliged to get my vitamin D in supplement form; it would be nice to be able to dissipate heat more efficiently than i do; the cold-therapy enthusiasts have their way, but it won't do for me; maybe taking my icewater internally would do the job; if most hypothyroids have trouble being warm enough, why do i seem the opposite -- i'd better google it....
According to one source, hypothyroids can "run hot" because they're not converting enough fuel to energy (boy, does that sound familiar), so they're forced to get rid of it via the heat-production route. The energy-production is scanty because of a dearth of specific nutrients, including coenzyme q10 -- which is acquired largely through biosynthesis. AHA, think i! Does this not look like YET ONE MORE thing my body needs help with (i.e., more supplementation)?
THEN i google "CoQ10 and hypothyroidism" and find ... a lot of unhelpful twaddle, but a hint that it might nevertheless be beneficial. Of course it's not recommended, but screw that! If i waited until the medical powers-that-be RECOMMENDED something, i'd be taking Synthroid, eat lots of carbs, weigh 300 pounds, and be positively miserable!
Voila -- two new ideas to feel more energetic and burn fat! Next time i go out, i'll get some CoQ10, and in the meantime i'll try to drink lots of really cold stuff! (I always did like popsicles....)
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
the power of good news and positive attitude
I was "bad" yesterday. It didn't start out that way, but i worked my way down from black coffee for breakfast, to sushi for lunch ... to cocktails and red-beans-and-rice with my oysters and "alligator eggs" (bacon-wrapped scallops) for dinner at the Swamp Shack. This morning i'm hungry. :-(
So, of course, i felt emotionally as well as physically uncomfortable ... but i'm better now. In my emailbox there were a few cheerful items, and ditto on facebook. I've had several cordial communications there as well.
I'm a big fan of pronoia -- Rob Brezsny's work has been inspirational to me. It has encouraged me to do things like ... avoid reading blogs that are full of unpleasant, misleading and ill-natured raving*. ;-)
As Brezsny points out, the news media can be "addictive" as well as depressing; they seem to think that people WANT to hear the worst. Is it because people with difficulties like to know that others can have more troubles, misery loving company? Intentionally stirring up bad feeling, in my humble opinion, is despicable. Not that the "ignorance is bliss" attitude is WISE, but one needs to sort of keep the world at arm's-length so as not to be overwhelmed by it....
A relative i will not mention (now departed) used to become easily irritated -- tell me, how could that help him, or anyone else for that matter? What good can one possibly get from becoming annoyed by little things? Is it not a lot more intelligent to shrug off the dumb little things that happen around one, and maintain aplomb under the influence of things one cannot help (like traffic)?
Aggravations will happen. I think we can expect them to be as inevitable as death and taxes. Does it make us feel better to let them bother us, though, or does it make us feel worse?
______
* a little rant can be relieving to one's frustrated feelings, but i believe in limits.... ;-)
So, of course, i felt emotionally as well as physically uncomfortable ... but i'm better now. In my emailbox there were a few cheerful items, and ditto on facebook. I've had several cordial communications there as well.
I'm a big fan of pronoia -- Rob Brezsny's work has been inspirational to me. It has encouraged me to do things like ... avoid reading blogs that are full of unpleasant, misleading and ill-natured raving*. ;-)
As Brezsny points out, the news media can be "addictive" as well as depressing; they seem to think that people WANT to hear the worst. Is it because people with difficulties like to know that others can have more troubles, misery loving company? Intentionally stirring up bad feeling, in my humble opinion, is despicable. Not that the "ignorance is bliss" attitude is WISE, but one needs to sort of keep the world at arm's-length so as not to be overwhelmed by it....
A relative i will not mention (now departed) used to become easily irritated -- tell me, how could that help him, or anyone else for that matter? What good can one possibly get from becoming annoyed by little things? Is it not a lot more intelligent to shrug off the dumb little things that happen around one, and maintain aplomb under the influence of things one cannot help (like traffic)?
Aggravations will happen. I think we can expect them to be as inevitable as death and taxes. Does it make us feel better to let them bother us, though, or does it make us feel worse?
______
* a little rant can be relieving to one's frustrated feelings, but i believe in limits.... ;-)
Monday, May 28, 2012
the stars at night ARE big and bright
...deep in the heart of Texas. ;-)
It's been a busy four days. I'm happy to say that Spenser didn't bite anybody this time, too. He's fascinated by the horses -- he seems to be thinking, "those are the biggest dogs i've ever seen, and they don't smell quite right...."
But it's been HOT. When i'm at a living-history event where i talk with spectators, i explain that mid-to-late Victorian attire isn't as oppressive as it LOOKS; however, it's significant to note that during the last half of the nineteenth century, there was a "mini ice age" going on. Not only is it warmer than it was 150 years ago here, there's more paving and less green, and therefore it seems even warmer than it really is.
When portraying a "decent" woman of the era, i wear a chemise and drawers, stockings and shoes/boots, a corset (made of heavy cotton), petticoat, dress, and often an apron, too. Whenever one goes out in public one is supposed to be wearing a hat or bonnet. When the daytime temperature is in the 90s (as it was during this weekend), the humidity high, and the sun shining brightly, ANY activity will make one miserably hot. The men in their long-sleeved shirts, vests and hats weren't too much better off.
That's why it's very convenient to have a disreputable character to play in hot weather: while sitting on our own porch, we wore nothing but our chemises (over modern underthings, so that we wouldn't look x-rated), and went barefoot, with our hair up off our necks. Our porch is of the "dogtrot" variety -- a sort of tunnel between the two halves of our cabin -- and if there's ANY air moving, it'll funnel through, so it's a very comfortable place to sit. When visiting other parts of town, we put on a loose cotton skirt and footwear (there are fire-ants...).
A disreputable character is also essential in the evenings, at any time of year. Bearing in mind that we "bend the social rules" so that everybody can have a good time, there's no way a LADY can be respectable and still hang around in the saloon at night! :-) Most of the women in town play roles which make it reasonable for them to have a drink, gamble, entertain and/or socialize as they like; if one doesn't want to portray a soiled dove, one can work (tending bar, cleaning or doing errands, entertaining musically), run games like faro or roulette, invent a character who reads palms or cards ... whatever ingenuity can suggest!
But after days of driving, working at maintenance, "playing the game," staying up late talking with friends i see too seldom, cooking and doing laundry, setting up and preparing things for storage again, ... i'm beat! I hope i'll have something intelligent to say when i'm rested up again! ;-)
It's been a busy four days. I'm happy to say that Spenser didn't bite anybody this time, too. He's fascinated by the horses -- he seems to be thinking, "those are the biggest dogs i've ever seen, and they don't smell quite right...."
But it's been HOT. When i'm at a living-history event where i talk with spectators, i explain that mid-to-late Victorian attire isn't as oppressive as it LOOKS; however, it's significant to note that during the last half of the nineteenth century, there was a "mini ice age" going on. Not only is it warmer than it was 150 years ago here, there's more paving and less green, and therefore it seems even warmer than it really is.
When portraying a "decent" woman of the era, i wear a chemise and drawers, stockings and shoes/boots, a corset (made of heavy cotton), petticoat, dress, and often an apron, too. Whenever one goes out in public one is supposed to be wearing a hat or bonnet. When the daytime temperature is in the 90s (as it was during this weekend), the humidity high, and the sun shining brightly, ANY activity will make one miserably hot. The men in their long-sleeved shirts, vests and hats weren't too much better off.
That's why it's very convenient to have a disreputable character to play in hot weather: while sitting on our own porch, we wore nothing but our chemises (over modern underthings, so that we wouldn't look x-rated), and went barefoot, with our hair up off our necks. Our porch is of the "dogtrot" variety -- a sort of tunnel between the two halves of our cabin -- and if there's ANY air moving, it'll funnel through, so it's a very comfortable place to sit. When visiting other parts of town, we put on a loose cotton skirt and footwear (there are fire-ants...).
A disreputable character is also essential in the evenings, at any time of year. Bearing in mind that we "bend the social rules" so that everybody can have a good time, there's no way a LADY can be respectable and still hang around in the saloon at night! :-) Most of the women in town play roles which make it reasonable for them to have a drink, gamble, entertain and/or socialize as they like; if one doesn't want to portray a soiled dove, one can work (tending bar, cleaning or doing errands, entertaining musically), run games like faro or roulette, invent a character who reads palms or cards ... whatever ingenuity can suggest!
But after days of driving, working at maintenance, "playing the game," staying up late talking with friends i see too seldom, cooking and doing laundry, setting up and preparing things for storage again, ... i'm beat! I hope i'll have something intelligent to say when i'm rested up again! ;-)
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
doctors i have despised ... and respected
I humbly admit to being a raging bigot ... when it comes to the medical profession! :-) As well as the bad taste one gets in one's mouth from what we read of them online (both BY them and ABOUT them), i have plenty of first-hand experience of their arrogance, ineptitude and stupidity.
I'm sure the first quality will be debated by nobody outside the profession. If you don't belong to their immaculate priesthood, you couldn't POSSIBLY be worthy to discuss the emerging evidence that all we've "known" about nutrition for most of our lives is incorrect -- or any other subject for that matter.. Tell me, is there a class in medical school called Attitude 101? Or maybe it's just a groupthink thing -- to maintain their position in society they HAVE to be right about everything, all the time. They couldn't possibly be misled themselves. What's in the medical books is FACT, scientifically unassailable, and any other doctor who disagrees is a heretic, after whom the AMA and FDA will be coming any day now. Patients MUST believe in their omniscience. ...Sounds like the placebo effect to me, that anyone ever benefits from consulting one.
As far as ineptitude and stupidity are concerned, you have to wonder -- these people have GOOD BRAINS! They couldn't have gotten through all that schooling without them. Why are they so susceptible to the blandishments of drug reps, then -- where's the skepticism? When they read about the chicanery practiced by Ancel Keys and the nonsense presented during the McGovern-led hearings, how can they brush it aside without THINKING, the way most of them do?
How can a fat, unhealthy doctor confront his patients and proclaim, "do what i say, because i know what i'm talking about"? First, trying to take care of HIMSELF and finding his own advice doesn't work, HOW on god's earth can he not doubt the validity of his beliefs? A certain doctor, whom i know only socially, is the poster-child for the point of view i'm describing -- his diet is appalling. I honestly like the man but ... DAMN.
There are plenty of "professionally revolting" doctors out there, too. From the GP i'd seen only once, who tried to make a house-call uninvited after i had returned from a hospital stay, to my "favorite," the ritzy Houston endocrinologist who declared that it didn't matter how bad i felt, because my blood-test numbers were good.... I don't know how these dickweeds can live with themselves.
On the other hand, there are some who deserve all the blessings the gods can give them -- some have MY blessings already! The men who "fixed" my mother's knees and eyes were paragons of their art. The two doctors i had, who themselves suffered from thyroid problems, who taught me a great deal i had never heard before (and i was no spring chicken when i consulted them) -- one of whom, additionally, educated me on allergens -- these were worth their weight in gold. The female doctor, actually was worth her weight in something more like platinum (the skinny thing).... It was a dark day for me when she left her Texas practice.
One or two friends, being aware of my predilection, voice surprise that there are blogs that i read and endorse which are written by [gasp] DOCTORS! :-) Doctors, of course, are like plumbers and hair-stylists, in that there are great ones as well as the piss-poor. It's just that there's a limit to how much damage a crummy plumber can do.
There are those who will say we have to cut doctors some slack, because after all, they're only human. My reply is, they can't have it both ways. They can't insist on maintaining their monopoly when their track record in so godawful. The excellence of trauma-care cannot cancel out their abyssmal record in the advancement of wellness. Until the physician learns to heal him/herself, my trust and confidence will be firmly withheld.
I'm sure the first quality will be debated by nobody outside the profession. If you don't belong to their immaculate priesthood, you couldn't POSSIBLY be worthy to discuss the emerging evidence that all we've "known" about nutrition for most of our lives is incorrect -- or any other subject for that matter.. Tell me, is there a class in medical school called Attitude 101? Or maybe it's just a groupthink thing -- to maintain their position in society they HAVE to be right about everything, all the time. They couldn't possibly be misled themselves. What's in the medical books is FACT, scientifically unassailable, and any other doctor who disagrees is a heretic, after whom the AMA and FDA will be coming any day now. Patients MUST believe in their omniscience. ...Sounds like the placebo effect to me, that anyone ever benefits from consulting one.
As far as ineptitude and stupidity are concerned, you have to wonder -- these people have GOOD BRAINS! They couldn't have gotten through all that schooling without them. Why are they so susceptible to the blandishments of drug reps, then -- where's the skepticism? When they read about the chicanery practiced by Ancel Keys and the nonsense presented during the McGovern-led hearings, how can they brush it aside without THINKING, the way most of them do?
How can a fat, unhealthy doctor confront his patients and proclaim, "do what i say, because i know what i'm talking about"? First, trying to take care of HIMSELF and finding his own advice doesn't work, HOW on god's earth can he not doubt the validity of his beliefs? A certain doctor, whom i know only socially, is the poster-child for the point of view i'm describing -- his diet is appalling. I honestly like the man but ... DAMN.
There are plenty of "professionally revolting" doctors out there, too. From the GP i'd seen only once, who tried to make a house-call uninvited after i had returned from a hospital stay, to my "favorite," the ritzy Houston endocrinologist who declared that it didn't matter how bad i felt, because my blood-test numbers were good.... I don't know how these dickweeds can live with themselves.
On the other hand, there are some who deserve all the blessings the gods can give them -- some have MY blessings already! The men who "fixed" my mother's knees and eyes were paragons of their art. The two doctors i had, who themselves suffered from thyroid problems, who taught me a great deal i had never heard before (and i was no spring chicken when i consulted them) -- one of whom, additionally, educated me on allergens -- these were worth their weight in gold. The female doctor, actually was worth her weight in something more like platinum (the skinny thing).... It was a dark day for me when she left her Texas practice.
One or two friends, being aware of my predilection, voice surprise that there are blogs that i read and endorse which are written by [gasp] DOCTORS! :-) Doctors, of course, are like plumbers and hair-stylists, in that there are great ones as well as the piss-poor. It's just that there's a limit to how much damage a crummy plumber can do.
There are those who will say we have to cut doctors some slack, because after all, they're only human. My reply is, they can't have it both ways. They can't insist on maintaining their monopoly when their track record in so godawful. The excellence of trauma-care cannot cancel out their abyssmal record in the advancement of wellness. Until the physician learns to heal him/herself, my trust and confidence will be firmly withheld.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
cold water and hypothyroidism
To me at least, hot water is much more attractive than cold. I've said before that i INSTINCTIVELY shun cold showers and similar shocks, but as i was reading Mark's comments about CT, a much more "science-based" reason for avoiding it occurred to me.
Take as a starting-point, Dr. Lustig's view that quality of life parallels the amount of energy we burn. That concept has always resonated with me. Some of us have to struggle to burn anywhere near a "normal" amount, let alone enough to experience that vitality-to-spare feeling of younger people.. An awful lot of us don't seem to have a reasonable number of properly-functioning mitochondria, for one thing. I'm increasingly finding it darned difficult to do the kind of exercise that builds one up, when one's knee tends to rebel unpredictably, and today's wrong movement turns into pain that lasts through next week. What I have to do is find ways to burn energy by manipulating my metabolism.
Next, add the chronic low body temperature of hypothyroid people, and the fact that a lot of enzymatic processes don't go forward as they should at sub-optimal temperatures. What we end up is with a recipe for an overweight, fatigued, numb-brained, joyless middle-aged person. That's what i do all this internet reading to learn to avoid.
I can always tell when i've pushed my limits too far -- the first symptom is an inability to warm up. It can be the result of too little sleep or food, or too much physical work or stress; no amount of clothing or blankets is enough, because my generator simply isn't producing sufficient heat. I put the ceramic footwarmer full of hot water at the end of the bed, drink some ginger tea with "real" sweetener, pop some melatonin and try to get as much rest as i can.
For years i've said that i do my best thinking in the bathtub; i've learned that there is a very good reason for that. Being in a hot tub raises my body temperature and EVERYTHING works better.
Take as a starting-point, Dr. Lustig's view that quality of life parallels the amount of energy we burn. That concept has always resonated with me. Some of us have to struggle to burn anywhere near a "normal" amount, let alone enough to experience that vitality-to-spare feeling of younger people.. An awful lot of us don't seem to have a reasonable number of properly-functioning mitochondria, for one thing. I'm increasingly finding it darned difficult to do the kind of exercise that builds one up, when one's knee tends to rebel unpredictably, and today's wrong movement turns into pain that lasts through next week. What I have to do is find ways to burn energy by manipulating my metabolism.
Next, add the chronic low body temperature of hypothyroid people, and the fact that a lot of enzymatic processes don't go forward as they should at sub-optimal temperatures. What we end up is with a recipe for an overweight, fatigued, numb-brained, joyless middle-aged person. That's what i do all this internet reading to learn to avoid.
I can always tell when i've pushed my limits too far -- the first symptom is an inability to warm up. It can be the result of too little sleep or food, or too much physical work or stress; no amount of clothing or blankets is enough, because my generator simply isn't producing sufficient heat. I put the ceramic footwarmer full of hot water at the end of the bed, drink some ginger tea with "real" sweetener, pop some melatonin and try to get as much rest as i can.
For years i've said that i do my best thinking in the bathtub; i've learned that there is a very good reason for that. Being in a hot tub raises my body temperature and EVERYTHING works better.
Monday, May 21, 2012
preparation and anticipation
The good mood continues today, despite lack of progress in the fat-loss department. I only have myself to blame, as i haven't been doing the Strong Medicine program AS WRITTEN. But according to Wooo, there's no way i CAN'T be burning fat, as my actual calorie intake is way low, and my carb intake almost nonexistent. But if i think about stalling, it'll get me down -- so i'll change the subject! ;-)
On Thursday, i take off for Texas, where i'm part of a club which holds members-only living-history weekends -- it's like grownups playing cowboys-and-indians! Completely self-indulgent and rather narcissistic play-acting with a crowd of intelligent, personable and talented individuals, it's one of my favorite get-away-from-it-all activities! My best friend of over 40 years will be there, too. Good times!
Some living history is also known as reenactment, but the two are not synonymous: a reenactor MAY just be put in appropriate clothing and told what to do, like a film-extra, but the best living-historians are so familiar with the physical and social conditions of the time and place they bring to life, that they might just blend in if taken there with a time machine. Our goal is to "fool the camera" ... with wimp-outs when it comes to air-conditioning in the big saloon and in some private residences, as well as full amenities where we cook, eat, and clean up. Meg and i have a little cabin of our own, though, with none of these "cheats"! We use nothing but oil lamps, a wood-burning stove, hand-held fans, chamberpots, etc, and we LOVE it. It's simple, quiet, charming and gracious. I could go on and on....
...But i don't have time! :-) Now that i've had a bite of breakfast, it's back to the sewing room to finish my new work dress, because Minerva Jane Frazier (whom i'll be portraying this weekend for the first time) needs something unique to wear; we don't want her to be confused with Louise or Birdie or (heaven forbid) Rosa -- other characters i occasionally play.
Yep, PLAY. I think this qualifies as one of those activities Mark Sisson advocates so ardently. It does require a good deal of work (we also have to carry our water supply from the "well" to our cabin, which is "out of town"), but it's an unalloyed pleasure. Wish we could do it more often!
On Thursday, i take off for Texas, where i'm part of a club which holds members-only living-history weekends -- it's like grownups playing cowboys-and-indians! Completely self-indulgent and rather narcissistic play-acting with a crowd of intelligent, personable and talented individuals, it's one of my favorite get-away-from-it-all activities! My best friend of over 40 years will be there, too. Good times!
Some living history is also known as reenactment, but the two are not synonymous: a reenactor MAY just be put in appropriate clothing and told what to do, like a film-extra, but the best living-historians are so familiar with the physical and social conditions of the time and place they bring to life, that they might just blend in if taken there with a time machine. Our goal is to "fool the camera" ... with wimp-outs when it comes to air-conditioning in the big saloon and in some private residences, as well as full amenities where we cook, eat, and clean up. Meg and i have a little cabin of our own, though, with none of these "cheats"! We use nothing but oil lamps, a wood-burning stove, hand-held fans, chamberpots, etc, and we LOVE it. It's simple, quiet, charming and gracious. I could go on and on....
...But i don't have time! :-) Now that i've had a bite of breakfast, it's back to the sewing room to finish my new work dress, because Minerva Jane Frazier (whom i'll be portraying this weekend for the first time) needs something unique to wear; we don't want her to be confused with Louise or Birdie or (heaven forbid) Rosa -- other characters i occasionally play.
Yep, PLAY. I think this qualifies as one of those activities Mark Sisson advocates so ardently. It does require a good deal of work (we also have to carry our water supply from the "well" to our cabin, which is "out of town"), but it's an unalloyed pleasure. Wish we could do it more often!
Sunday, May 20, 2012
good-busy day
Last night, i began to compose a post explaining how i came to be so anti-modern-medicine, but i've decided to put it on the back burner. At that time, i was feeling a bit cranky; yesterday had turned off uncomfortably warm, somebody across the street (a newcomer) was having a party with loud music, a neighborhood dog wouldn't quit yapping, and there was an almost constant series of sirens within earshot. I slammed the windows closed and turned on the AC, but the booming of the neighbors' bass was still perceptible. I blew the StM part of my diet by finishing the (low-carb) coconut ice cream, to help get cooler fast. GRRRRR....
I almost slept the clock around. I usually only do that when i'm shaking off a cold virus.
Stress is an ugly thing, even if you don't really notice it AS stress. Obviously, i was more stressed yesterday than i was aware of (please pardon my grammar -- this is turning into quite a bad habit for me). First the heat (it got into the 90s here), then a lot of interruptions, then the noise ... and i HATE noise.
All that sleep helped. My energy today has been above average, and the project i started yesterday (making a new dress for the living-history event coming up next weekend) has been progressing well. Had a great bacon-and-egg scramble for breakfast and am cooking another ground-chuck patty for dinner as i write. Good-busy.
Because "busy" comes in different flavors: stressful-busy, can't-catch-up-to-myself busy, no-way-on-god's-earth-i-can-finish-in-time busy, having-so-much-fun-i-haven't-stopped-to-eat busy, and so on. Today's busy-ness has been enjoyable, like eustress is. The seemingly-effortless sense of accomplishment when all goes well just feels good!
"Thank you, sir, may i have another?" :-)
I almost slept the clock around. I usually only do that when i'm shaking off a cold virus.
Stress is an ugly thing, even if you don't really notice it AS stress. Obviously, i was more stressed yesterday than i was aware of (please pardon my grammar -- this is turning into quite a bad habit for me). First the heat (it got into the 90s here), then a lot of interruptions, then the noise ... and i HATE noise.
All that sleep helped. My energy today has been above average, and the project i started yesterday (making a new dress for the living-history event coming up next weekend) has been progressing well. Had a great bacon-and-egg scramble for breakfast and am cooking another ground-chuck patty for dinner as i write. Good-busy.
Because "busy" comes in different flavors: stressful-busy, can't-catch-up-to-myself busy, no-way-on-god's-earth-i-can-finish-in-time busy, having-so-much-fun-i-haven't-stopped-to-eat busy, and so on. Today's busy-ness has been enjoyable, like eustress is. The seemingly-effortless sense of accomplishment when all goes well just feels good!
"Thank you, sir, may i have another?" :-)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)