[Mudpie]

JayEll I'm fine with wearing the mask and might even do so next winter. I've had another form of the flu and would willingly comply with any measures to stop it happening again. The physical distancing at the grocery store and the early bird hour for seniors are things I'd like to see continue as well.

Most of all I'd like to feel relatively safe going out in this City again. That's what Toronto is about for me - crowds, cultural events, shows, movies etc. Without all of those there isn't much point to "living" here.

What we are doing now is certainly better than risking being physically incapacitated for the rest of our lives, or even dying, but it's something I'm finding hard to sustain. I am very much of the physical world and looking at everything on a screen is not natural for me. Like reading - I want a physical book in my hands, rather than a box with a screen.

I like to touch animals and things and hug my DH. I wear clothes made from natural materials because synthetics irritate my skin. I cook and eat food from scratch whenever possible. I like flowers with scent.

On screen is just not satisfying for me. Kinda like eating a meal from small tubes of paste, rather than food from a plate.

Dagmar

[JayEll]

I'll wear a mask as long as it's mandated. I've always been careful about washing hands and using sanitizers/disinfectants, because I have never had a regular flu shot. I don't get the flu much in spite of that. I think it's been once in ten years or more--I can't remember the last time. I don't get colds much, either.

I miss our concerts--we had season tickets for years. I enjoy live music with an orchestra. And we used to go to live theater often. I wonder whether those will ever come back. But in general, I avoid crowds.

Most people I know who have received the vaccine have had no side effects, even after the second shot. So that's good.

As far as food, my partner and I have settled into a routine. I do the grocery shopping about once a week, and we get takeout or go out to eat once a week or so, at restaurants we trust. My weight has stayed steady all this time, even though it's high. I don't think that right now is the time to address that! Ha!

[HowlinAtTheMoon]

My main problem with staying at home more is that I have completely gotten out of the habit of travelling. It seems like it will take a huge effort to visit my son near Tacoma, WA, even though I haven't seen my grandchild up there yet. And same with going to Arizona to hike. We'll see how it goes, but I really like being home. Our second shot should be coming up on Feb 12 if the supply holds steady.

[Mudpie]

Alice I hope the vaccine supply holds steady and you get your second shot as planned. And travelling? if you can safely do it great! Who knows what's going to happen next? See your grandchild!

Dagmar

[JayEll]

I doubt we'll be doing much traveling this year. Maybe some car trips within the state... It makes me sad because it's not like we have decades ahead of us for traveling.

I have a friend who has lowered her cholesterol using dietary changes alone. Her cholesterol was pretty high, but she was determined not to take the usual drugs, and I'm with her. She reduced her intake of animal-based foods (e.g., no butter, no whole eggs) and increased her fiber, and it's working. I'm glad that my cholesterol is not high!

[ange82much]

just un-lurking to chip in where it's none of my business but JayEll ...why is your friend reducing animal-based foods if her aim is lower cholesterol? Does she know that eating a lower cholesterol diet isn't the same as reducing cholesterol in your blood? Fats, carbs, sugars etc are the main culprits to chop...which she's doing (with a twist). Low-nutrition food in general (sweets, refined carbs etc) would be a better target than the animal angle. Great that it's working for her though and i totally agree it's a much better approach than popping pills. The only issue with her angle is that maybe she's cutting out some stuff that has other nutritional benefits, eg protein, and not cutting the more obvious processed foods which are adding nothing.

Sorry for the unasked-for rant, but it's an area that i used to have the wrong idea about too, so i think there's a lot of general misunderstanding with people on the subject (not surprisingly since it's not intuitive).

[JayEll]

Hi! Nice to see you, ange82much! Would like to see more of you.

I completely agree. I don't think my friend is doing herself any favors by avoiding those foods. Cholesterol in foods doesn't affect blood cholesterol that much anyway, from what I've read. I wonder about the nutrition angle also. She has limited her intake of carbs and sugar for a long time.

Upon my asking her more about it, seems she's now walking 3 miles a day for 6 days a week. She used to do only 3 days. I think that's more likely to be the cause of her lower cholesterol.

Speaking of which, I think it's time for me to go for a walk! 1-1/2 to 2 miles is plenty for me.

[HowlinAtTheMoon]

Nice to hear from you, ange.

Reducing butter and red meat will reduce your saturated fat, which is a driver of high cholesterol. Cheese is, too. But eggs are once again on the "good" list. I agree with you, JayEll, that exercise is a giant part of the equation.

[JayEll]

Egg yolks contain important nutrients other than cholesterol. My partner and I never believed that eggs were bad. We insisted that we were going to eat them anyway--but then we realized that we only eat eggs maybe once a week, so it was a non-issue!

Tampa Bay Bucs won the Super Bowl, and people here are elated! Bucs' defense was excellent, but the Kansas City Chiefs also did not seem to be playing at their full ability. I like Kansas City, but can't root against the home team!

I bought "party foods" to have on hand, but we ended up not eating much of them.

[Mudpie]

Originally Posted by JayEll

I bought "party foods" to have on hand, but we ended up not eating much of them.

I'm finding that I don't really want all the "party food" either. I ordered DH a birthday cake for this coming weekend and will also give him a really nice box of Belgian chocolate for Valentine's Day. I will eat a piece of the cake but probably only one. And I have my own box of Belgian chocolate but will eat one or two, rather than the whole box in a weekend.

Dagmar :

[JayEll]

Happy Valentines Day! I think the only chocolate item currently in our house is a box of organic dark-chocolate-covered raisins. Ha!

Good luck, Dagmar!

I'm having laser light therapy for my chronic neck and shoulder pain. After only two treatments, it seems to be making a big difference! The laser light reduces inflammation--which I think is the cause of my problems. Physical therapy was only making them worse.

I get the treatments through my chiropractor. They aren't covered by insurance, but the cost is low enough that I have no problem paying out of pocket--especially since they work! It's been reported that problems resolve completely for most people after about 5 treatments. I'll see how it goes.

[Mudpie]

Our chocolate is all gone. The pandemic dragging on is doing weird things to me. I wanted to stay in bed all day yesterday (stat holiday) and cry and eat chocolate. I did the last one.

Dagmar

[ange82much]

Saw my maintenance weight on the scales this morning for the first time since before Christmas. yay!! My dream weight is under 54kg (120lb) and i was 53.8kg today.

So in summary it's taken me around 8 weeks to recover from the 10-day splurge i had over Christmas. That's quite a lot and it's been a long haul really, and it doesn't even properly count (by my rules) until i've seen it 3x, so the scales might decide they made a mistake by tomorrow....

It was a good splurge though, and i've had a fractured knee for the last few months and haven't been able to exercise so that's limited my progress i guess. Anyway i'm excited to be at maintenance today at least, and no-one else would be interested to know, so unloading here

Hubby is the chocolate-muncher of our household and i bought him a large pink Lindt heart for valentine's (very manly!). It was consumed within the day (don't think i was even offered a taste from memory!).
We don't normally do Valentines activities but we had a nice day on sunday and did a tour of various craft markets in different suburbs around Sydney via our mountain bikes, ending up in the Rocks. We then cycled round to the fish market, (crazy busy because it was also Luna New Year) got some oysters and a sashimi selection, then rode home and ate it in the evening. Yum yum.

There's always some chocolate in our house (can i blame hubby again?). I normally have a bag of mini-caremello koalas in the cupboard ( 75 calories each) and i'd have maybe one a week. Other than that there is a basket of assorted chocolate bars, and some museli bars with chocolate on them on the same shelf, but i forget they exist and i don't think of them as mine, so i'm really grateful for that.

[JayEll]

Sounds like you're pretty chocolate resistant, Ange! I am, generally, though I can enjoy good chocolate from time to time. Congrats on reaching your maintenance weight! I hope it holds. 8 weeks to make up for 10 days... Wow... That does seem like the reality, though.

Dagmar, glad the temptation is gone. We're all having trouble with the pandemic--you're not alone. Hope you feel better. And are staying warm!

[Mudpie]

Managed to go the weekend without binge eating or drinking any alcohol. I find abstaining much easier during the week as any drinking disrupts my sleep and makes working in the snow all that much harder. The "party on the weekend" is very hard to resist with the stress and depression from the pandemic, particularly since Toronto has been in lock down for what feels like forever.

I'm really trying to think about spring coming and just hanging on until then. This is quite normal for me this time of year, just came on a bit earlier than usual.

Dagmar