May 9, 2012

Anything Can Happen Day!

Wednesday is Men's Health Awareness Day!

Okay, so not officially anywhere, at least I don't think so, but what the heck! I am currently involved in an event that's going on in my area (Flint) all about getting men to take care of themselves. I thought the men in my life were anomalies, but I have found out that, no, they are part of the norm. How about your significant others? Dads? Sons?

Here's the typical conversation in my house....

Him: Wow, honey, come feel my forehead, do I feel hot to you?

Me: Hot as in 'gosh aren't you a sexy hunk of mankind' or hot as in 'blazing inferno of disease ridden germs'?

Him: I think I might be coming down with something. You think I got the flu?

Me: Mmmm...(feeling forehead, while kicking toys out from underfoot)....maybe you should make a doctor's appointment? What else doesn't "feel well"?

Him: Naww, I'll just rest today and let you take care of me. Maybe some chicken noodle soup or some tea?

Me: (looking around at the two piles of laundry, a stack of homework to assist the kids with, dinner thawing on the stove) LET ME take care of you? With my postage stamped medical degree? You can heat up a can of soup. I'm a little swamped here.

Him: Fine. Just let me die then....

Me: Call the doctor...

Him: Forget it. I'll be fine. It's probably something I ate. 

Yep - the dreaded doctor, right on that same line with asking directions and putting the toilet seat down! I mean, really, it's too difficult to go see the person who did all the training to help you take care of yourself and tell him that you possibly may have something wrong? And if they find something, now to go take care of it? Actively seek out treatment?

My dad had a stroke some years back. His doctor said, "Stop smoking, cut back on the fried foods, take time to smell the roses....". What did my dad do? Please know it wasn't ANY of the above. So, many petit-mals later and a second grand-mal seizure, he is now bed-ridden and cranky. Did we (read "he") learn a lesson from this? Nooooo....Physical therapist comes to the house, my dad won't talk, won't look at, won't listen to.....AAAAGGGGGGHHHHH!!!

I have three wonderful sons. The donors to their lives (their two dads) are headed down that same path - I feel like I'm on a that game show - No Whammies! No Whammies! - except they are screaming - No Doctors! No Doctors!  Mean old mommy has put her sons on a medical regimen. Physical exams = 1x per year,  Eye and Ears = 1x per year, like clockwork - same time every year. Medical care should become like a good habit. 

Some of the many areas men should check on a regular (annually at least): 

• Physical Fitness (Endurance, Agility)
• Stress Level
• Cardiovascular Health
• Nutritional Health
• Mental Health
• Blood Pressure
• Glucose/Diabetes
• Glaucoma
• Vision
• Dental
• COPD/Lung Capacity
• Calcium/Bone

Consider it as a "Tune Up" for your "car" - wouldn't want "Betsy" to go to the dump, would you? How's your guy doing? Does he go to the doctor or is he a "self-help" guru? 

You know, guilt can go a long way...as in "Don't you want to see Jr graduate? Just go to the doctor, so I feel better about our future."

 

November 16, 2011

It's Wednesday! It's Wednesday! That means it's

Anything Can Happen Day!

 So what’s going to happen today? Hmm, I think it’s going to be about…

CLEAN EATING

What is clean eating? Well, it’s not making sure your hands are washed before you eat, although that is important as well. Clean eating is about eating foods as close to their natural state as possible (known as “whole foods”). So basically, we’re talking fresh, fresh, fresh. Fruits and veggies, whole grains and lean proteins. No box ‘mac and cheese’, canned/tinned ‘beef stew’, real butter, not margarine. Clean eating is a Way of Eating, not a “DIET” like say Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, South Beach or Dukkan. In fact (or at least my experienced opinion) the best approach to South Beach and Dukkan is to eat whole foods or eat cleanly while applying their eating plans to your weight loss goal. 

According to Livestrong.com, there are five steps to Clean Eating --

Step 1
"Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Choose fresh, unprocessed foods over canned or processed products. Clean eating enthusiasts believe that we were meant to survive on fresh fruits and vegetables and that processing them reduces their nutritional value and fiber content and adds salt, fat, sugar and chemicals. Choose fruit instead of fruit juice and if you must pick a processed vegetable, frozen is always better than canned."

 Step 2
Balance protein and complex carbohydrates. Incorporate whole grains like brown rice or millet over processed grains. Eat lean meats, and choose organic or grass fed meats when possible as these foods are usually clean of pesticides, hormones and additives. Grill, broil or steam your meats rather than frying.

Step 3
Avoid sodas and high calorie, sugary drinks. Follow the tenant of clean eating that aims to remove added sugars from the diet. Choose water or tea for your beverages, or juice your own fruits and vegetables and enjoy them without added sugars or preservatives.

 Step 4
Trade bad fats for good fats. One of the most important aspects of clean eating is removing saturated fats from the diet. Lower your saturated fat intake by avoiding fast food, choosing lean cuts of meat and getting your fat calories from foods like nuts and fatty fish.

 Step 5
Eat several small meals to keep blood sugar stable and to avoid overeating. Choose snacks like nuts, low-fat or fat free dairy and fruits and vegetables. Note that some people who live a clean eating lifestyle don't eat dairy products while others adapt clean eating to a vegetarian lifestyle.

The photos included here are from Clean Eating Magazine's "Comfort Foods 2011" Special Issue. "With 101 nourishing, never-before-seen recipes, this book is your answer to the winter blues! Features include comforting 15-minute meals, simple slow-cooker recipes, revamped cheese classics and soups, stews & chilies."And they're so tasty, too!

 While we haven't made the total switch to clean eating, my little family is probably at 65% Clean. As the boys learn to prepare meals on the stove and in the oven, I add about 2% a month. Of course, with all things healthy, it can be expensive to eat clean. Clean Eating Magazine has loads of helpful items to make things easier to achieve your goals. Each issue (and available online for free) are shopping lists for the recipes in each issue and each issue includes a set of budget menus and a shopping lists for those as well!

Ain't life grand!?! Are you eating clean?

Resources for this information: Livestrong.com, CleanEatingMagazine.com