Down here on the SW Florida coast, there is a cold, virus…crud going around. Mike came home with it two Friday’s ago. Two days later, I started with it. It was weird. The symptoms were exactly the same for us both, just two days difference.
They were:
Sore throat
Extreme sinus/nasal congestion
Headache
Exhaustion
Body aches
Cough (starting as non-productive then becoming productive)
I started with it on Sunday. I spent Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday in bed. No appetite. On Wednesday, I saw the doctor and he put me on antibiotics. Thursday, Friday, Saturday showed much improvement. It is now Sunday and I am feeling a lot better. We both still have the cough but that will go away soon, I hope.
I am susceptible to bronchitis and pneumonia, so I was lucky this time. This all started with someone coughing all over him at work.
Things I ask, without infringing upon your “freedoms”:
Today, after indulging in some candy to see how it would affect my glucose count, my CGM (I shall call her Lingy) got bossy and told me I had to do 20 squats! What a bossy pants. I moved into a corner near my desk and completed all 20 squats. Kind of proud of myself!
So, my Lingo CGM (continuous glucose monitor) arrived. I prepped my arm and placed the sensor. It did not hurt at all. I did, however, bleed like a harpooned whale.
So far, my levels have been between 76 and 110. I can’t wait to see how it goes tomorrow. Here is a photo of the sensor showing the needle.
I can’t believe it has been almost 8 months since I last posted. Where have I been? To be honest, no where. I’ve been in quite a funk lately – mentally and physically. I recently decided I needed to do something about that.
First, I started reflecting on my mental health. What is keeping me stressed and depressed and what can I do about it?
With the current state of the world, it has been hard to think positive about the future. It doesn’t matter which side of the aisle you are on. I have friends and family from all walks of life and I love them all no matter what. What I don’t like is the amount of hatred that is out there. I’ve decided that I am going to spread positivity. It is amazing how people react to an unexpected smile or a kind gesture from a stranger.
I’ve been dealing with family health issues on both my side and my husband’s side of the family. I find myself stressing. We are so far away from both sides of the family. Sadly, there is nothing I can do. So, I just pray. God must be up there thinking. “Oh no, not her again” LOL. Not really, He has been good to me.
I’ve also started to invest in my physical health. I looked into vitamin B12 shots and, after extensive research, started getting weekly shots. Well, it’s only been 2 shots so far, but it seems to have made a difference. Both my brain fog and severe exhaustion have lessened. If you ask my husband, he will say my energy has exploded. (I haven’t been caught singing and dancing in the passenger seat of the car in years. Today, I had a ball).
I’ve also been interested in how my body reacts to different foods and activity. I am awaiting my first CGM (continuous glucose monitor) delivery. They should be here on Monday. I plan to wear one for the next month and track how different foods affect my glucose. This will help me choose foods that are less likely to spike my blood sugar. More on that journey in a future blog.
I am feeling better and have more energy. I am hoping to share some insight and tips with anyone interested.
I met with the registered dietitian last night. I think it was a good session. We came up with three doable goals for the next two weeks.
Goal 1: Since my step totals have fallen off and I haven’t been hitting 5000 steps lately, we decided to set a goal for 5000 steps each day. I hit 5105 yesterday. Today, at 4:45 PM, I already have 5135 steps.
Goal 2: Since Physical Therapy is helping, my second goal is to continue with it AND to do my PT home exercises every day. So far, so good.
Goal 3: Continue tracking my food and posting pictures on the Nourish. Easy, peasy.
I’ve been working on eating healthy and moving more. I am currently having physical therapy once a week to help with my lower back arthritis.
I have been so frustrated with my goal of getting healthier and moving better. I often feel like the rusty tin man. My joints don’t want to unlock. I’m tired of feeling this way and I am working on a plan for change.
Besides physical therapy, I have been getting massages again. Not the nice, relaxing massages. These massages have improved my flexibility so much. My therapist, Wendy, has found a way to unlock my knees. It hurts like hell while she is doing it and for two days after, but it is working.
I will be meeting with a nutritionist tomorrow after work to get some assistance. I will share what I learn and give updates on my progress.
Monday through Friday my alarm is set for 5:15 AM. Starting tomorrow, on weekdays I will give myself a sticker on days that I get up with my alarm. I’ll share my results next Tuesday.
Back in March, I was feeling physically and mentally exhausted. The stress of dealing with the aftermath of a category 5 hurricane had damaged my psyche. Between eating unhealthy food due to dealing with an unusable kitchen sink and having to sleep in an old queen sized bed, my body was rebelling. It was time to do something.
After a lot of research, I decided to try Golden Milk. What is Golden Milk? It is a drink made of warm milk of your choosing, turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, black pepper, and dried coconut milk. I had heard that turmeric was good for inflammation. I thought about taking turmeric pills but decided I didn’t want to go that route. I found an organic Golden Milk mix on Amazon and decided to give it a try.
Day 1: The bag of Golden Milk arrived Wednesday, May 10, 2023. I was so excited to try it. That evening, I warmed up 1 cup of cow’s milk in the microwave for one minute. I added a teaspoon of the golden powder, stirred it and sat down to sip by drink. While I wouldn’t describe it as delicious, I wouldn’t say it was disgusting. It needed just a little something to make it more enjoyable. If all goes well, I will try added maple syrup to it as suggested.
About half an hour after drinking it, I was so relaxed and ready for bed. I went to bed without taking the Tylenol Arthritis and Advil that had become a daily thing for me. I slept like a baby and woke up feeling great. I actually woke up before my alarm went off and, instead of waiting for my legs to feel good enough to walk, I got up and made a pot of coffee. No hitting snooze. I was up and at ’em.
That first day I was able to go up the stairs at work for the first time in ages and I did it without having to stop part of the way up. I didn’t only do it ONCE, I went up the stairs TWICE that day. Amazing.
Day 2: This evening I added a tsp of maple syrup to the Golden Milk. It was an improvement but still not how I wanted it to taste. It went down smoothly and, just as the first night, I was relaxed and ready for bed in half an hour. I slept like a baby again.
The next morning I woke up, still feeling better than I was. However, I was muscle sore due to pushing myself too hard and using muscles I hadn’t used in a while. I did take an Advil and after being up for a while and getting the muscles warmed up, I was much better. Even with the little bit of morning achey muscles, still an improvement over how I felt in the morning before Golden Milk entered my life.
Day 3: This evening I added a squirt of agave and a splash of vanilla extract to my Golden Milk. YES! This is how I will be making it from now on. Once I finish my regular milk I will switch to unsweetened vanilla almond milk and I won’t need the vanilla. Drank my delicious latte and once I was relaxed, I went to bed. I know you are expecting me to say I slept like a baby and I will, but not the way I first meant it. Did you know that this turmeric has diuretic qualities? Yes, I encountered the I will call the wee wee hours. I lost count of how many times, but it was a lot. Just like a baby. LOL
The next morning I woke up feeling great. I looked down and, much to my surprise, my feet and ankles were no longer puffy. I weighted myself and I lost six pounds. Yes, I said six pounds.
Day 4: Had my latte and went to bed, sleeping really well.
The next morning, I had a sinus headache but the rest of me felt fantastic. Took an Advil and that went away quickly. I made sure to drink lots of water so I didn’t get dehydrated due to the diuretic actions.
As for how I am feeling today: One a scale of 1 to 10, my arthritis and muscle pain is a 2. A week ago it was any where from an 8 to a 10. My ankles and feet no longer look like the stay puffed marshmallow man. I wore pants haven’t worn since before the pandemic. I feel fantastic.
Day 5: Had a great nights sleep after drinking my yummy latte. Woke up refreshed and went for a walk down on Charlotte Harbor. I didn’t need to stop and take a break. I even walked up the slight incline near the Spirit of Punta Gorda statue. I’m down another 4 pounds! I’ve only taken Tylenol Arthritis once since I started this. I’ve taken Advil twice. I haven’t needed to take Claritin either. I’m looking forward to continuing this stuff.
Day 6: Had my latte and slept well last night. Got up at 6:30 am this morning. Weighed myself and I was up two pounds, but that’s ok. I’ll lose it again.
It is Monday of my Staycation. I made coffee and started cleaning. Cleaned the refrigerator. Cleaned out some cabinets and took the items we no longer wanted to Good Will. I had a nice lunch and now it is time to take a break. More reports to come.
Day 7: I woke up feeling pretty good. Had a relaxing day. It is almost time to make my 7th cup of golden milk. It is funny how this has so quickly become an evening ritual. Once I feel that it’s time to meditate and get ready for bed, I get happy and look forward to that golden deliciousness.
Went for a nice walk around the block tonight. Did the whole thing without stopping. I’ve almost made my step bet goal for the day. I have 300 steps to go. After I finish that two week program, I’ll write about my experience.
What a great way to end my week of drinking Golden Milk.
My conclusion: After 7 days of Golden Milk I feel like a new woman. My arthritis is so much better. I’m sleeping great. My appetite and food cravings are so much improved. Digestion has settled. My skin is improving. My mood has improved and I’m feeling less stressed.
This was my experience with Golden Milk. Yours may or may not be similar. Please check with your physician if you plan on trying Golden Milk. Wishing you well.
As many of you may know, May is Mental Health Awareness month. I have always been a believer that people need to take care of their mental health as well as their physical health. In fact, poor mental health can affect your physical health. Depression and stress can cause stomach pain, back pain, headaches, and other unexplained aches and pains.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five Americans will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime. Mental health conditions are common and can affect anyone, regardless of age, race, or gender. About 1 in 25 U.S. adults lives with a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression.
Making mental health a priority every day is possible in several ways. Here are some tips to help you get started.
Take Breaks – It is essential to give yourself time and space to heal mentally. Try taking a few minutes each day to practice mindfulness and relaxation. This will help you to regulate your emotions and reduce stress.
Some favorite mindfulness practices that I use every day are:
Breathing exercises – There are many different mindfulness breathing exercises. I like to practice 4 – 4 – 4 breathing. Breathe in to the count of four. Hold it for a count of four and then exhale to the count of four. Do this for two to five minutes and check in with yourself to see if you are less stressed after you are done. There are other breathing exercises you can check out. Just Google mindful breathing exercises.
Grounding – Breathe gently. Find five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste. Using this technique when you are anxious will help calm you are reduce your feelings of anxiety. Here is an example – right now I see five things – my pen, my coffee cup, my keyboard, the sun in the window, and a tape dispenser. Four things I can touch – my soft sweater, my feet on the ground, the chair under me, and the air conditioning blowing on my neck. Three things I can hear – people talking in the conference room, a truck horn outside, and the phone ringing. Two things I can smell – my coffee, my perfume. One thing I can taste – the French vanilla creamer in my coffee.
Set Goals – Setting goals and working towards them is a great way to help manage mental health. Goals provide a sense of purpose and give you something to focus on when life feels overwhelming. Journaling is one method you can use to set your goals.
Exercise Regularly – Exercise is an important part of maintaining a healthy mental state. It releases endorphins, which help to improve your mood and reduce stress.
Connect with Others – Social interaction is key for mental health. Talk to friends and family, join a support group, or find an online community. Talking and connecting with others can help to establish healthy relationships and reduce feelings of loneliness. This is one area of mental health care that a lot of people struggled with during the pandemic shut down. With all of the restrictions, it was hard to gather together and share that connection.
Prioritize Self Care– Make time to do things that make you feel good. This could be listening to music, going for a walk, reading a book, or engaging in a creative activity. Being mindful of your mental health and actively taking steps to nourish it is one of the most important things you can do.
Get enough sleep – Sleep is essential for your body to repair and replenish itself. Try to ensure you get seven to nine hours of good quality sleep each night. This will help to reduce stress and fatigue and make you feel more energized and motivated.
If you’re struggling with your mental health, it is important to seek professional help. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s okay to reach out for help. There are many mental health professionals, including psychologists, psychiatrists, and therapists specialized in certain areas, such as addiction, depression, anxiety, or trauma.
When it comes to mental health, professional help can prove beneficial in a number of ways. Mental health professionals can give you insight into your own behaviors and thoughts and make connections that you may not be able to see. They can also provide you with tools and strategies to help you manage your mental health in the long run.
Seeking professional help is not a sign of weakness, but rather an act of courage. It takes tremendous strength to own up to one’s mental health struggles and to find the help needed to handle them. Reaching out for help is a sign of self-love, as it shows that you are willing to do whatever needs to be done in order to take care of your own mental health.
This {_______} life 