life: super powers not included

photo from guilhembertholet
That’s my kinda doctor

When it comes to my health, I’m a chronic googler. And maybe a bit of a worry wart. OK, more than a bit.

The first time I got a migraine, google suggested I was having a stroke. It nearly gave me a heart attack. (Thanks a lot for that one.) My left nostril’s constantly stuffed up. When it gets really bad, I search Google for something my ENT and allergist have missed. Just in case. And then last week, I had a consultation after a freaky thing happened to me.

I was sitting at my desk, minding my own business when I felt a sting and a deep throb on my big toe. I took it out of my shoe and noticed there was a big, blue vein at the base of the toe I had never seen before. Hmm, weird, I thought. Fast forward to 6 p.m. I look at my foot to put my socks and shoes on and there’s a big bruise right where the vein was.

My first thought was that the vein burst. My second thought was that it was a test run for a bigger aneurism. So, of course, I sat down with Google the minute I got home. In case you were wondering, I found absolutely nothing about spontaneous vein swelling, pain, and bruising except for a forum of people saying “Hey, I have that! My doctor doesn’t know what it is.”

Well, the next day, Reuters reported on a study that found that more than half of Americans looked up health information on the Internet. And only a teensy 5 percent of those were people e-mailing their docs.

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photo by *zoah.n

Well, it’s a blizzard. I spent all day yesterday working from home as the snow poured down. The Man fought off the masses at the grocery store before life as we knew it was buried in the blizzard. (At least that’s what the round-the-clock news coverage of the storm would have you think.) Let’s just say he went a little crazy.

The mass frenzy at the supermarket lit a fire in The Man, and with the words Super Bowl repeating in his mind, he stocked up on enough junk food to feed an entire fraternity. Including spray cheese in a can. Need I go on?

Didn’t think so. Anyhow, should the D.C. area lose power and disappear from civilization for a week, The Man and I will subsist on barbecue potato chips, tortilla chips, nacho cheese, spray cheese, pub cheese—yes, he bought three liquid cheese products—along with double stuffed Oreos. Did I mention our Super Bowl party has no guests? When it comes to major sporting events, boys will be boys.

Or he’s trying to kill me.

Speaking on disgusting food, I just read a disturbing article about bagged salads. I knew there was a reason I never purchased them. Up until yesterday, my reasoning was that the lettuce wasn’t as fresh as buying a full head. That, and I don’t trust anyone with cleaning my food. I guess I had good reason to be suspicious.

Consumer Reports just released a report that says 39 percent of packaged salad mixes exceeded limits for two different types of bacteria present in fecal matter. I don’t think I need to go on. Let’s just say if I were ever to take a shortcut and use bagged lettuce, that desire has been zapped.

Whatever you do, do not suggest in the comments that regular heads have the bacteria, too. I need to think it’s cleaner. Capiche?

What do you all have planned for the Super Bowl? (Someone tell me they’re surrounded by junk food, too!) And on the topic of tainted salad—will you eat it but wash first? Or will you stick to regular heads?

Happy Friday everyone!

I’m working from home today because the mid-Atlantic is supposed to get hit with yet another blizzard. Normally I’d be smiling ear to ear about a semi snow day. (I know I’m not the only grown up who acts like a kid when it comes to snow days.) But this one is one big annoyance.

A few months ago, I had to cancel a dentist appointment because of a flat tire. It was rescheduled for December. Then the snow came. The doctor cancelled. It was rescheduled for tomorrow. You can see where this is going, right? Anyhow, the next Saturday appointment isn’t until May. May! Which means I can either suck it up and go during the week or I can find a new dentist—all before my teeth rot.

(In case you’re wondering what the fuss is about, here’s the deal: I’m still seeing my Maryland dentist even though I moved to Virginia over a year ago. I love him. I trust him. I don’t want to switch. But getting from Northern Virginia to Maryland during the week—what should be a half hour drive—can take all day when you count rip-your-hair-out D.C. traffic.)

Anyhow, that longwinded explanation was just me giving you proof that this snow storm is a pain.

Moving on…

I haven’t yet bought it, mainly because I’m on a fiction kick and I’d like to keep up the momentum, but I’m eyeing Michael Pollan’s latest book Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual. If you haven’t heard, it’s a compilation of easy-to-follow rules for healthy eating. Forget science, forget fad diets. The little book features simple tidbits to guide your meals. Like: “Cooking for yourself is the only sure way to take back control of your diet from the food scientists and food processors.” And: “Stop eating before you’re full.”

If I had to pick a rule to eat by, I’d say it’s “everything in moderation.” I will never give up sweets (I’d die! I swear!) but I won’t go overboard. More and more, I’m learning to love another rule: “Know where your food comes from.”

How about you—what food rules do you live by? Have you read Pollan’s latest book? If so, which of his rules is your favorite?

photo by hexodus…
Oh Mike Seaver…

I was a tween back in the wholesome ’80s. In those days, we got our morals from Dr. Cliff Huxtable, not Gossip Girl. And in those days, I loved the show Growing Pains. I always wanted to be Tracey Gold. I don’t think it had much to do with her character, the chubby overachiever Carol, though we do share the same Type A personality. Nope, it was because Tracey Gold had the same first name as me. (It’s rare I come across another Tracey, you know.) Not only that, but she spelled it with an e, not the wrong way: Tracy. Oh, and did I mention her last name started with a G? Just like my maiden name? So cool.

That pretty much sums up how kids pick their role models. There’s no science behind it. There’s no listening to a mother say so-and-so is a nice girl or a good, fine woman. Nope, it’s completely random, kind of like everything else a kid does. (As in: Why does a kid decide she suddenly hates red foods? There is no reason. She’s a kid. It probably sounded cool that day.)

photo by calmdownlove

The reason I’m thinking about Tracey Gold isn’t because she’s still my role model (hello, she was sloppy seconds once Kelly Kapowski came along). It’s because I was reading a post about today’s children and role models over at Psych Central. The author started worrying about the state of role models today: Miley Cyrus with shorts up to there. Pink prancing around practically naked. Lady Gaga being Lady Gaga. And Tiger Woods being … oh you know. I’m glad I’m not a parent. I think I’d go mad. And buy a lot of Selena Gomez stuff.

The article made me think…

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photo by food thinkers
Pumpkin seeds are high in magnesium

My mother is notorious for saying half sentences.

“Oh, I meant to ask you about that thing. The one that, um … um…”

Or: “I forgot to tell you! Oh, wait, my phone’s ringing. Hang on.” Yup, Mom, what did you want to tell me? “Hmm…I don’t know. Must not have been too important.”

I’m used to these half thoughts. So I was very excited to read about a supplement that boosts brain power.

You listening, Mom?

Anyhow, what was I talking about? Oh, right, how I loved Lost last night. And how I’m addicted to it all over again.

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photo by .through my eyes.’s

Just when you thought thin was in…

… a group of researchers publish a study that says being overweight extends life in people age 70 and older. Huh?

Here’s what we know: Most of the research this decade (well, really last decade seeing as 2010 jump started a new decade) has found that being overweight causes a number of diseases—type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer, and more. There’s been a lot of talk, too, about getting older folks to drop pounds.

But a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society reports that weight loss may do more harm than good when it comes to the elderly. The researchers studied more than 9,200 Aussie men and women for more than 10 years or until their death. They accounted for lifestyle factors, demographics, and overall health.

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photo by mochida1970
At least somebody enjoys the snow

This weekend, what with the impending snow storm, I gave up any ides of checking off items on my to-do list. Down in Virginia, even flurries are cause for alarm.

Being from Massachusetts, I always thought the mid-Atlantic’s fear of snow was silly until we were dumped on during the holidays. Too few plows cleared the pile of snow. No one seemed to understand the importance of sand and salt. And don’t get me started on how long it took the main roads to be drivable again.

Anyhow, all of that made me realize driving around Saturday during a snowstorm just wasn’t going to happen. We’ll have to wait yet another day to stock up on groceries. (Yep, I’m going on three weeks. It’s amazing what’s left to eat at my house.) Because I was snowed in, and because this week was more or less hellish, I decided to have a Me Time kind of weekend.

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photo by migraine chick

Happy Friday!

You know those weeks when time seems to accelerate into warp speed? The ones where you wake up Friday morning and wonder how it can be the weekend so soon? Yeah, this was not one of those weeks for me. Thanks to the yo-yoing weather here, I’ve had some kind of a headache for more than three days. It took all my might not to shut my eyes at my desk this morning. I restrained myself (because that’s how you get fired, folks) but I really, really, really wanted to silence the pounding behind my eyes.

As much as I’d like to say I have wild and crazy plans for the weekend, right about now my mind is daydreaming about taking a nap. Before I pass out take a nap, I thought I’d leave you with some good reads.

Next time you’re trying to remember something really important—say, a speech or a wedding toast—take a break. Researchers found that letting the mind rest (but not sleep) after memorization helped people retain information.

If you’re a runner, check out this article on the Nike iPod sensor and Adidas’ new addition to the running gadget market.

What you eat post-workout makes a difference. A study found that snacking on a low-carb meal after an aerobic workout increased the body’s sensitivity to insulin. Insulin sensitivity is important because insulin resistance can lead to type 2 diabetes.

Maybe it’s just a quirk The Man and I share, but our household is borderline obsessed with expiration dates. (I think we both grew up with great fear of drinking sour milk. Thanks a lot Michael J. Fox in Life With Mikey.) This article explains the difference between “sell by” and “use by” dates plus when you should trash expired food.

It may look a little goofy, but I will definitely be trying this stretch ASAP.

Anyone else a stuffed-up mess thanks to indoor allergens like dust and pet dander? Check out this article for tips on controlling allergens in your home.

Before I drown my headache in a bottle of Excedrin sweat my headache off at the gym, tell me: What are your weekend plans?

photo by 802

The first time I heard about barefoot running, I wondered what type of crazy person would trade running shoes for roughed-up heels. It wasn’t just vanity talking (though, OK, my desire for soft, smooth heels did play a role in my skepticism). It was my concern for the general well-being of these runners—especially the city folk.

Bare feet + concrete + shards of glass + a hypodermic needle here and there does not = safe running. Still, over the past year or so I’ve read a lot of firsthand stories saying barefoot running is to exercise what eating locally is to nutrition. Or something like that.

Well, today a study was published that says, “Not so fast. Running sans shoes may be better after all.” In today’s issue of the journal Nature, Harvard researchers who studied runners’ gaits report that 75 percent of people who run in shoes land on their heels first. People who run barefoot strike the ground with the balls of their feet first, which generates less force on impact. According to the researchers, all of this is important because more than 30 percent of runners are injured every year—and those injuries arise thanks to problems in the foot or lower leg.

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photo by tomas

This morning I woke up 20 minutes before I needed to. Nope, I’m not becoming a morning person; the towel hook in my bathroom finally unstuck itself. I woke up to an echoing ka-plunk at 6:15 a.m. and, naturally, the first thing I thought was that someone was breaking into my apartment. Of course.

(In my defense, in an apartment building I lived in about a year ago, my neighbors across the hall were beaten with a hammer when their apartment was broken in to. Yes, they were OK. No, we no longer live there. Thus explains my anxiety.)

After checking the place, shaking myself out of early morning grogginess, and realizing our weak little towel hook was to blame, I slid back under the warm covers.

“This would be the perfect time to do some early-morning yoga,” I thought. I always envy those people who can wake up early to exercise and stretch before the day begins. They seem so awake, so centered, so fit.

And then I fell back asleep.

So far, the research hasn’t chosen a side in the workout debate. Some people claim morning exercisers are more likely to stick to their fitness plan. Once the day gets going, we’re more likely to let other tasks, chores, or distractions come between us and our workout. Others say muscles perform better in the late afternoon or early evening. And still others say exercise is best whenever you can fit it in—during the wee hours of the morning (that’s anywhere from 4 to 9 a.m. to me), afternoon, evening, or night.

I’ve never been to the gym before 9 a.m. but I’d like to wager that most people are like me, the squeeze-it-in-after-work-and-before-your-stomach-eats-itself-for-dinner type. I believe this because the gym is packed like a Jonas Brothers concert every night at 5 or 6 p.m.

Still, I have a nagging desire to become this crazy morning person who wakes up at 4 a.m., does some yoga, maybe cardio and strength training every other day, eats breakfast while reading the news, does a little cleaning, and gets ready for the day. All before I’d normally be pressing snooze for the fifth time. (Sigh.)

All right folks, this tired blogger is signing off. It’s time to whip up a quick dinner before I bake some oatmeal breakfast cookies. (Apparently these have escaped my oatmeal boredom.) I cribbed liberally from The Fitnessista’s recipe, though I cool mine in the fridge, roll them into balls, then bake in the oven until they’re crisp. I make a batch that lasts half a week. This week’s add-ins to the oats/milk/protein powder mix: almond butter (of course) with a few chocolate chips, and apples and cinnamon.

Before you go, lemme know: When do you like to exercise? Does the time of day you exercise make a difference to how hard you work out or what type of exercise you do?