Hollis100 Member

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That's a good point about sodium as an essential nutrient and especially important for people who exercise a lot. My late husband was a marathon runner and daily hiker, even through illness. He would occasionally get leg cramps from low sodium. I exercise every day, am not sedentary, but I do far less than he did. You have…

That's really funny. Glad he was okay. :D :D I've also noticed with beet juice that -- wow -- a few tiny splatters are bright crimson and look like dye, so I have to be careful not to splatter it on something that matters, like my clothes.

I like walnuts, shelled, unsalted. They're high in the good fats. They're also high calorie, so I can't mindlessly munch. I add them to salads and yogurt. Eating some now. The package says; Calories per 1/4 cup: 200 Total fat: 20 grams Saturated 2 grams Polyunsaturated 14 grams Monosaturated fat 2.5 grams Trans fat: none

I would check with your doctor to rule out a medical problem. Other than that, perhaps change your foods. Try eating oatmeal/steel cut oats, salads, broccoli, and cabbage and see if they help.

Okay, here's my report on beet juice for high blood pressure. I was skeptical, but to my surprise I give it a thumbs up after two days. The important part: I drank two cups in the morning and checked my blood pressure at night, many hours later: 118/73. This is huge for me. I'm not taking blood pressure meds, but my…

I'm dealing with high blood pressure but this applies to weight loss and hunger control, too. Lately, I've been buying bags of frozen vegetables and microwave one for lunch at work instead of eating out. For example, one bag is sodium free broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots. I use DASH seasoning, which is sodium free and I…

Another strategy is to give yourself other positive messages. Example: you hear yourself say "I love chocolate and junk food." You can then tell yourself, "Not today. I also love fitting in my skinny jeans and wearing a beautiful sweater" OR "I love being lean and healthy."

To clarify one point of what I wrote above: IF lowered my calories because I decided to only eat in a window of time. That meant I didn't snack before or after the window. People can accomplish this in other ways, like just deciding not to snack. IF is one strategy of many. Being aware of how many calories I'm consuming is…

There are several types of IF -- when my weight loss stalled, I tried the kind of IF where I gave myself a window to eat that started at 11 a.m., sometimes noon, so I skipped breakfast. I told myself I could eat the regular amount of calories within the window. This strategy ended my stall and I began to lose again. I…

Congrats on your wonderful achievement! You look great with the haircut and shave, too!

Beets are also supposed to lower high blood pressure, per Harvard Health, WebMD, and many other sources. Ugh to the taste -- they taste like dirt, but whatever. Beet juice is supposed to be more effective than eating beets. I bought both this morning and will give it a try.

I've read there are two types of people, abstainers and moderators. I'm definitely an abstainer. It's much easier for me to stop eating a food like chocolate than try to moderate it. I don't miss it and don't feel deprived. Eating a little makes me want it all the time. Other people would feel they were missing out and…

(1) Reduce sodium. This is huge for me - I went from 185/90 to 128/77 in two weeks from food alone, no meds. Sodium is in almost everything in a store or restaurant except raw fruit, vegetables, nuts, and a few other things. Read labels. If you eat out, check the place's website for nutrition info before you go. Keep your…

Your post is fabulous, with so much wisdom from experience. Wonderful photos. Thanks for sharing your story here.

I'm not a dad, just wanted to say it's good that she saw you exercising. You're setting an excellent example. Yes, using the treadmill can be a "dad thing"!

That's exactly right. Just say no thank you, that's all it takes. And you're right -- you will inspire other people to take better care of themselves. I did this at work during Valentine's Day week when my employer passed out chocolate candy. I said no thank you, that I have health issues with sugar (I would eat it all the…

My mini-goal (actually, a big goal) is to stay off blood pressure meds. My blood pressure clocked in around 185/100 at the doctor's office a week ago. Normal is 120/80. They want to start me on meds. I go back next Tuesday Feb 22. I'm a widow, hate cooking, and eat takeout every day, so I'm eating tons of sodium, which…

My suggestion: stop buying the soda. Even though he likes it, the soda will rot his teeth, plus set him up with a lifetime soda habit. My mother did that to me and I have had dental problems all my life from it. Juice is almost the same from the high sugar content. Buy water, no sugar tea, and other drinks without sugar.…

I have no marathon experience, just wanted to say it's good to know you're better now and at home. If I were you, especially because of the breathing issues, I would ask my doctor if I would benefit from physical therapy or rehab before I tackled training for a half-marathon. Good luck to you.

That type of food is a trigger food for me. I don't bring it home, or if somebody gives it to me as a gift, I throw it away when the person is gone, or pour water on it and ruin it, get rid of it. People used to put candy gifts on my desk during the holidays and I would always get rid of it when the person was gone. If I…

I agree, great ideas. I also have high BP and am trying to do what I can to lower it naturally before the doctor puts me on BP meds. One thing I'm trying is to change my reactions in traffic -- I tend to get very angry. I read that the wonderful late Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh said sometimes he would practice smiling.…

I agree with people who said quit smoking first and then work on weight. I quit smoking many years ago. People have to find their own personal reason to quit. We all know cigarettes are expensive and terrible for our health, but those reasons didn't work for me -- I quit because I got mad at myself for depending on…

My new snack is snow peas, a type of slightly sweet, crunchy bean. Only 25 calories for 1 cup or 100 calories for a whole bag. I eat them plain or with a little hummus (I have to watch the calories on the hummus, but it's healthy). The snow peas are very high in vitamins and other nutrients.

Thanks, I'll take a look at these.

I know someone who has that problem every year. You might have seasonal depression, or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Talk to a doctor. I've read that some people use light therapy. Here's an article from the Mayo Clinic about choosing a light therapy box, worth reading. They also say talk to a doctor first because…

Congrats and well done, AmyLS2022! That's what it takes to form new habits, making changes one day at a time. A heartfelt thanks for your work taking care of the sick during this historic pandemic.

Agree, many of us feel like this from time to time. You might look at what you're doing for others -- are there some things they could be doing for themselves and learning/taking personal responsibility? Can you cut back anywhere and give yourself some time?

This is an excellent response. My family had the same terrible values -- you had to be extraordinary or you failed as a human being. Very few people can live up to that brutal yardstick. I've changed my values over my lifetime, after a lot of work. Far better to aim for being a decent person and ask yourself how you really…

No over the counter sleep aids to recommend, but you might try a relaxing hot shower and muscle relaxation exercises (lie down and tense then relax your muscles, working from your feet up to your head and facial muscles).