Posts from — January 2010

photo from suksim

Yesterday was the most amazing day I’ve had in a while. No, I didn’t win the lottery and I’m not currently swimming Scrooge McDuck-style in a sea of money. And, nope, I didn’t win a free vacation to Bora Bora and I’m not currently sunning myself on the white sand beach. For people with chronic knee pain, there’s something even better: going to the grocery store.

You heard that right.

If you’re confused and think I’m nuts, read my full story here. If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you know that I’ve been dealing with knee pain for years. And over the past two years it’s been particularly bad. So bad that I haven’t been able do the amount of walking required of grocery shopping for quite some time. That job—along with, oh, 50 billion others—is left to The Man.

Except yesterday.

The Man and I made a trip to the gym post-work. It was a Friday night, which means the place was only a third as crowded as usual and I could complete a hard workout super efficiently. (You know, without semi stalking the people who claim certain machines for what seems like hours. For some reason, I’m always stuck staking out the leg press machine like an undercover spy since most people break for at least 10 minutes between sets. But, I digress…)

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My CamelBak water bottle is BPA-free.

First off, I’d just like to thank my wonderful readers who gave me some awesome breakfast ideas. You’ve saved me from the oatmeal doldrums and possible starvation. OK, that second part was probably a stretch, but I’m just trying to get across my thankfulness. I have a big shopping list for the weekend, and I’ll let you know how it all goes.

Moving on to more depressing news…

Not a long time ago, a list of health problems—diabetes, birth defects, male sexual dysfunction, infertility, prostate cancer, and elevated liver enzymes—was linked to the chemical BPA (bisphenol A). Now, a new study reports the chemical may play a role in heart disease.

BPA: The facts
BPA, which has estrogen-like properties, is the main component of polycarbonate plastic, the hard stuff used to make water bottles, food storage containers, baby bottles, and even some kitchen equipment like popcorn makers. It’s also a major part of the lining that goes into canned goods. That was all well and good until some researchers discovered that—oops—BPA can leech into food. Heat, harsh detergents, microwaving, and plain ol’ age can intensify the effect. Some experts estimate about 90 percent of the U.S. population is exposed to BPA in some way or another. (The other 10 percent are so super rich they can painstakingly avoid anything with the slightest scent of BPA. At least that’s my guess.)

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photo by avelino maestas
Yes, I know oatmeal is good for your heart, yada yada yada.

Somewhere between my first and third bites of oatmeal this morning, I realized a profound truth in my life: I’m sick of it. Not life—oatmeal. I’ve been eating the same breakfast at my desk since February 2008.

I’d never been an oatmeal girl before. Then I tried Quaker Simple Harvest, packets of instant oats with add-ins like pecans and flaxseeds.

I soon graduated to plain oats that I mixed with my own flaxseeds and a topping of the week, like brown sugar, cinnamon, apples, honey, apple butter, or berries. At first, I so loved my new breakfast food that I ate it on weekends, too. It took about a year for that novelty to wear off. After that, I stuck with a strict workday-to-weekend ratio: 5 bowls of oatmeal per week and 2 freebie breakfasts of eggs, cold cereal, pancakes, whatever.

But recently, after days of eating fewer and fewer bites of my morning oats, I realized I’m bored. And, to be honest, the idea of oatmeal kind of makes my stomach turn. Two years of the same food is a long time, people. A really long time. Even I, a creature of habit, will admit that.

Here’s my dilemma. I’m stumped on a replacement. Sure, I can sub in a couple slices of toast with peanut butter. But I don’t see longevity there. And there are a few rules and regs:

1. I must be able to make it the night before. There will be no last-minute breakfast making for me in the morning. It’s hard enough as it is to roll out of bed in the morning. I can’t spare an extra five minutes to whip up a meal. Crazy? Possibly. True? Absolutely.
2. The only at-work prep I can do is microwave, toast, or use a toaster over. Ovens are out. Using crazy tools is out. In fact, I have to be able to spoon or slice the breakfast with the infuriatingly fragile eco-friendly silverware my work provides. (In case you were wondering, it disintegrates with heat or excessive force, like that used to cut through lettuce.)
3. This goes without saying, but it has to taste good and keep me full until lunch.

So, you’ve probably already guessed, but I’d like your help. Got any great breakfast ideas that will save me from oatmeal? If you eat at your desk like me, what do you make?

photo by darin barry
Tarzan does push-ups, too.

Of course by now you’re wondering how my Project Push-up is going. Do I have massive guns? Do I look like Madonna or Jillian Michaels?

Um, no. But I have realized I can do more than one regular push-up per night. And that, my friends, is success.

In the process of finding my inner Navy Seal, I came across a great iPhone app that plans a day’s program based on your lack of skill. It’s called Hundred Pushups, which to me is maybe a little too optimistic, but whatever. You start by dropping and doing as many push-ups you can in a row. In case you want to laugh were wondering: 3.

Moving on… You then click for Today’s program, which then asks you to do your first set. That’s three. Rest for a minute. Drop for four. Minute break. Do two. Break. Three. Break. Four.

While I think a minute break is a little long between sets (especially with the piddly amount of work I’m doing), I do like the way the reps are broken up into manageable chunks. Because instead of quitting at three I did 16.

As I continue with the plan, I’ll keep you updated on how I do. The Man has even downloaded the app and is following his own program.

Though I wouldn’t say I enjoy the push-ups, I can say it’s more fun when I’m following my electronic guide. It’s also more exciting considering I’d like to write a post about the day I break 20. Or 10.

Is there any exercise you dread doing? How do you get around to doing it—or do you avoid overall?

photo by coba

Our bodies do some crazy things. Like how our eyes tear up when they’re hit with freezing wind. No sadness or loneliness there, just cold, raw air. Or how we sweat when we’re nervous. Isn’t sweat the body’s way of cooling itself? I’m never hot when I’m nervous. That brings me to the freaky if not completely annoying thing my body did this weekend. My knees—those ever-infuriating discs that continue to complicate my life—started playing games with me.

It began on Saturday when I was sitting on the couch doing some work. I was splayed out over the entire couch—legs reaching to the teensy corner The Man occupied. (Sorry, Man.) Anyhow, I spent a few hours in that position because I was on a role with an article I was writing and, frankly, it was really warm under the fuzzy blanket I draped over me. My point is, I wasn’t doing any exercise—no physical activity in any way, shape, or size. I was being a (hard-working) bum.

Then things started getting all Twilight Zone freaky on me. When I walked into the kitchen to make dinner, my knees were bright red and burning up. That’s how they get when I walk a ton a few blocks. And while I wouldn’t have been happy about it, I would have understood their flare-up had I been shopping or standing or even walking around the house. But no. No, no, no. They were inflamed by sitting! Sheesh.

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photo from here

Finally Friday. And let me tell you: I’m letting out a long, deep, eyes-closed sigh. It’s been quite the week. I’ve been beyond busy at work, getting up super early (which you all know is borderline impossible for me), staying late, and trying to squeeze in some gym time between work and dinner. Whew.

This weekend, I plan to catch up on some more writing for work. Deadlines, deadlines. But if I wrap up early enough, I’m going to try to drag The Man to Leap Year. I heavily stress try, by the way. I caught Avatar while visiting my parents over the holidays (if you haven’t seen it, close the computer, grab your 3D glasses, and go), so it’s about time for some totally predictable chick flick fun. Judge me if you will.

All right, before this becomes an entertainment blog, I’ll move on to the interesting health news and write-ups I read this week. Happy Weekend, all!

Since scraping the cartilage off the inside of my knees (sounds like fun, right?) I’m almost obsessed with injury prevention. This is a good primer for hard-core athletes or weekend warriors.

I’ve never heard of breakfast pudding, and I wasn’t too tempted to try it until I saw Oh She Glows’ photos. And now I’m craving a bowl tomorrow morning. Best part: It’s healthy. Check it out here.

A new book by women’s health doctor Susan Love says Americans should take a chill pill. We worry too much about our health, she says. I’m on the fence. Some (cough, cough, me) fret often about disease prevention, but there’s also an obesity epidemic in the United States. What do you think?

Here’s what I think is a biased look at physical therapy (or what the author repeatedly calls voodoo) in the New York Times. Having been through PT and found pain relief and helpful advice, I think the view is overly critical. No mention of the education PTs give? How about you?

I feel like I’m taking crazy pills. Taco Bell is pegging itself as a health food. No joke. If you believe that, please shoot me an e-mail because I have a bridge to sell you.

photo by eddie bauer

I have cold feet. All the time. No, really. Little-known fact about me: I have Raynaud’s disease, a condition that makes my fingers and toes get all cold and numb in response to temperature or stress.

The small arteries that bring blood to the skin narrow and limit circulation. So, yeah, my fingers and toes turn purple then white when the temps drop below something like 70. And then the fun starts: Once they start to warm up, the blood rushes to my digits and they burn like I’ve been holding them under hot water for 10 minutes.

As you can probably imagine, it’s my mission to keep my extremities—especially my feet—warm in all climes, but especially during the brutal winter. Last week, when I was shopping in a real mall for the first time in ages, I found the perfect socks at Eddie Bauer.

And when I say perfect, I mean they’re made for mountain climbing. Don’t judge. My new most favorite thing is super comfortable (read: no itchy wool), has weaving at the arch for extra support, wicks moisture, and keeps odor at bay. Oh, and did I mention that they’re super warm? Well they are. Which means I haven’t had to hold my toes under scalding water this week.

Oh, and here’s a disclaimer for you: Eddie Bauer didn’t send these sock to me for free. They didn’t pay me for this post. But, Eddie, if you’re out there, feel free to send me some. Feel free to pay me. Just sayin’.

You don’t have to have a feet-freezing disorder to need a comfy, warm pair of socks. It’s winter people. So if you need to do some toe warming, check ’em out.

Do you have any favorite winter weather wear?

photo by castorp republic
Beefy Wonder Woman must have a lot of husbands…

Back in the day when I was living solo, dinner was easy. Open fridge. Spy healthy foods. Chop, bake, or grill foods into a satisfying yet light-on-the-waistline dinner.

But once I got married, things changed. Suddenly I didn’t control the menu. There was always some dude begging for cheese dogs, cheeseburgers, alfredo sauce, beef, beef, and more beef. I’d try to reason with him that salads are a balanced and healthy dinner.

It’s not a meal unless it has meat.

I’d try to explain why eating a side of bread with pasta or potatoes was pointless. Bread is a carb, potatoes are carbs, and pasta is a carb, I’d say.

I need a side of bread with everything I eat.

I’d beg and plead with him to skip the appetizer for once. The restaurant-size portions were big enough, I’d say.

We’re at a restaurant, it’s a treat.

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photo by sachmanns.dk

Everyone needs more D. That seems to be the consensus of doctors, scientists, nutritionists, moms, and anyone else you talk vitamins with. You could say 2009 was the year of vitamin D.

Why D?
A study presented at the November conference of the American Heart Association found that the participants who had low levels of vitamin D in their blood were nearly twice as likely to have a stroke or die from one. They also had higher rates of coronary artery disease and had double the risk for heart failure.

In another study this year, researchers who measured athletes’ jumping ability found that those with the lowest levels of the vitamin didn’t jump as high as their peers, suggesting D is important for muscle health.

And in 2008 a leading pediatric group suggested kids get double the typically recommended dose of vitamin D—that’s 400 international units (IU) per day.

Also included in the vitamin D research: It protects against rickets in children, may lower the risk of type 1 diabetes, cancer, the flu, multiple sclerosis, and the common cold. Then there’s the oldie but goodie: It helps calcium prevent bone loss.

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photo by akuban

I’m back. Back in Virginia. Back at the daily grind. Back to early mornings and sleep deprivation. Sigh. Oh how I miss vacation.

After 10 days visiting my family up in Massachusetts, The Man and I schlepped our entire lives (That’s what it felt like at least. The car was loaded like a college kid’s ride after freshman year because we finally brought our wedding presents home. Three years later.) down I-95 and the dreaded Jersey Turnpike. That made for hours and hours—and hours and hours and hours—of fun.

This morning, after 10 days of sleeping till 10 a.m. (Yes, I have a bit of a sleeping problem. As in I can’t wake up.), my body punished me for the 6:30 a.m. wakeup call. On Monday morning. By 8 a.m. I was queasy and shaking like a naked chick doing the Polar Bear plunge. During which time I grew a strangely strong craving for full-fat macaroni and cheese and Ramen. Yes, Ramen, the salt-in-a-box noodles that I’ve never, ever eaten.

In case you were too lazy to look it up wondering, one package of Ramen contains 1,760 milligrams of sodium. Remember, you’re supposed to eat less than 2,300 milligrams per day.

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