[Nita]

Hi Ladies,

Just a quick note to say "hi." Gene is coming along slowly but he definitely is working hard. My sister, however, is not doing well with her foot. In fact it may be infected and it seems the care she is receiving is only making it worse.

Thanks for enlightening me that I can stir veggies. Since I haven't had to cook real meals, I haven't been eating very well, and as a result my usual energy is diminishing. As far as the apples go, I have to agree they most certainly fill you up and keep you from wanting those sweets!

Take care,
Anita

[[email protected]]

Bringing us to the top!

will post more later, I feel a major headache coming on, going to take something for it and lay down. Allergies are driving me crazy!!!

[mooz49]

Mornin chickies ..... just a quick call ...... waiting for my mother to wake up to start her day.
I had a very good eating day yesterday During the week my sister-in-law was using my Blood Pressure reader and I took mine also and the bottom reading was 101. I have White Coat Syndrom (even though there iwas not a white coat in sight!) As soon as I think of checking my BP I can feel myself getting tense! I went for a 2 mile walk yesterday and checked it shortly after I came home a few times ........ I know silly me! Again it read 100 but at one time I did get it reading 91 which I was happy to see.
Anyway it scared me and I got to thinking that I have got to learn to Eat To Live and not Live To Eat. So the cups of tea and biscuits have to stop.

It is 8am here and Paul is up early to watch the rugby ........ same match that Shad is watching with her party no doubt.
(Mmmmmmmm marshmallows and rhubarb crumble )

Shad - enjoy yourself but I am sure you have no need to be told that!

Patty - I hope you are feeling better soon...... these allergies seem to be a worldwide thing as a lot of people here in Ballycastle suffer from them ioncluding Orla earlier on this week.

Nita - glad to hear that Gene is getting steadily better. Sending to him and to your sister.

Catlover - its good that the apples are keeping the hunger at bay and they are a healthy food.

Halgal - thanks for the tips from The View........ we need all the information we can get. Someday something will work for us!

Have a good day all

Posting last nights sunset for you all and if anyone wants the full copy let me know.

[HalGal]

Good Saturday Morning Girls!

Good to hear from everyone this week. This was my first full week off, and I feel better - rested, and some initial cleaning/work is finished. I've spent a fair amount of time on the patio repotting new flowers for the summer. I always wait until they go 50% off. This year there were lots of pretty ones to choose from. I have a few more begonias, and almost an entire flat of wave petunias to finish this weekend. I had to go purchase more potting soil and some pearlite. It gets really, really hot on the deck. The enclosed walls raise the temps even higher, and I have to be careful where I place certain plants as they will 'fry'.

I say, "Go Tom Cruise!" He spoke out against abuses of psychiatric drugs in America today. Now folks are speaking out for the meds, and I am sure they help some folks, and all is well. But, when one of the leading and most lucrative entry level jobs in our country for new college graduates is pharmacy drug sales - well, that pretty much sums up what Cruise is saying. I shall never forget the $800 a month pharmacy bill the nursing home presented to me the first month I placed my Grandmother in the nursing home. These were all psychiatric meds for her Alzheimers - and honestly many sedatives. When she entered the facility she was on 1/2 asprin and stool softner - only. OK, that's my Saturday soapbox!

Mooz: Thanks for the beautiful pictures. Believe it or not, my bottom number of my blood pressure was one number lower than yours. My doctor ask me to purchase a home monitor, and if it does not come down I'll be looking at more meds - which I am not for if I can avoid by exercise and diet.

OneDay: I know how awful it can be to suffer with those allergies. I had one spring I had them, but it was due to a fall where I injured my sinuses. I ended up taking all of the allergy tests and came up with none. About a month later all of my symptoms subsided. Who woud have thought. I had a bad fall early that spring hitting my chin, which affected my sinuses - for what felt like an eternity. I have home air purifer machines I'll be yard saleing this summer!


CatLover: A TV channel called FitTV had a segment on using hypnotherapy for relaxation and weight loss this week. I had totally forgotten the sessions we had when I went throught the medically supervised fasting diet about 15 years ago. I think it only worked on me one time. Anyway, I kind of went along with the session on TV, and I do believe just using proper breathing techniques and meditation can calm us. At the time, I use to think it was a total waste of time, and it never worked. I can only remember one time (this is out of a year and a half) that I ever felt hypnotized,

Shad: Thanks for your commical input. I find your posts not only informative (I just love hearing how you talk, terms you use and FOODS you eat that are very different from what we eat.) And, your humor. Thanks for joining us!

I hope everyone has a great weekend, what did we use to call it, uh... um.... I believe it was OP. LOL..

[Shad]

Yep well definitely not OP this weekend HalGal. Last nights dinner turned into a feast - both of Rugby and food. We danced our way through the courses and the games and the resultant scale watch this morning is not pretty. Lots of water, lots of movement and lots of good things for the body today.

I have the feeling Paul may have returned to bed a little upset Mooz?? The Brits here (unfortunately we couldn't find any Irish) were a tad quiet towards the end of the game. Would have been a better game without the French referee, not that he did anything bad, but he certainly gave the pea in the whistle a good workout. And I was delighted to see that apart from the usual pushing and pulling, there was no fighting or violence in the game. I deplore violence in what is supposed to be 'sport'. I've even been known to put pen to paper (actually fingers to keyboard) if there is too much violence in sport. It gives a bad name to the game, whichever game it is, and sets a really bad example to the young. Not that many of them need an excuse really.

Anyway, we didn't get the rhubarb crumble for dessert, simply because I could get any rhubarb. None in the shops and we can't grow it up here. It's a temperate to cold weather plant. However the rest of the meal went down well. Judging by the number of bones piled up for the cat!!??? it was appreciated. Cat by the way only picks at bones once in a while, I will have to go rescue the bones before they are swarming with ants. A few bottles out there in the rose garden as well. No doubt it was too thorny to try to pick them up!

Nita, I'm glad to hear that your DH is doing okay and will be coming home soon.

I hope all the allergies and headaches are clearing for those of you suffering from them. So many people seem to be suffering from them at the moment. What are we doing to our environment to cause this?

Mooz, the sunset photos are lovely. I really do love a good sunset or sunrise on the beach. The light gives such wonderful shadows on the sand.

So today it is back to the painting, sanding and chipping of tiles off the floor. Only 7 more to go of those. I really should have hired a jack hammer but it seemed like such a small area to go to those lengths. Maybe mow the lawn as well. Lets just see how the day pans out. Siesta might be fun too.

Have a good day everyone. I'm off to enjoy my Sunday now.

[Catlover777]

Mooz, Hal--My dsil had very very high blood pressure, and drugs didn't help--nor did losing weight. But by drinking pomagranate juis (sp?) she is off all meds and her bp is normal. It doesn't taste very good--she mixes it with soda.

Tried to get DH to try it--he can't drink anything with bubbles. His BP is controlled with meds, so he wasn't willing to drink the stuff, but I have gotten some in a pill. Needs to get his dr's clearance first. But would be worth a try.

[thinlizzie]

Hello chicksters....
I am here and alive. so sorry i've been out of touch. It's been just over 1 month since we got back to our home for the summer, and it's been very hectic...or so it seemed, as it's only going to get more hectic soon. DMIL is arriving later this week and staying with us for perhaps her whole 2 wk vacation. Usually she goes to her daughters for part of it, but with her job schedule she may not even be in the country at that time. Her job sends her all over. This time just to Canada, but it's still another country--just one that is closer to Michigan LOL!
Also it is going to be my 30th class reunion around the 4th of July, and i am one of the 'planners' of it,so much to do there. Should be fun tho. Not a huge bunch planning to attend but it will still be nice.

Reading all the posts trying to catch up with all of you.
It is good to see so many still posting.

I am not walking or even watching my diet as yet since i've returned home, so i guess that is part of the reason i don't post. Just can't get started.
What will it take? Probably a doctor appt!

Right now we have my sisters youngest (her only son 9 yrs old) here with us. He is having a blast being away from his 4 sisters and mom. Maybe he's getting a little homesick now and then but we (my mom,dad, other relatives and us) have been keeping him pretty occupied. He loves it at the lake, esp. when it's been exceptionally warm and the lake is even warm for swimming already in June. That is a first. We've even had warm nights, one night it only got down to the 70's. VERY Odd for the U.P.! But we'll take the record years this way too.

Talk more later~ must cook them a big breakfast as promised now, they have been out fishing already this morning.(DH and nephew)

Thanks for thinking of me and i will try to post again, sporadically at least!
till then,
thinlizzie

[HalGal]

Gosh it is hot here! We have had more 90+ degree days this last week than in the last 5 years. I am watering plants twice a day, but that is not a problem at the moment.

THIN: Great to hear from you. Good to hear you are enjoing the lake this summer. That would be the life, I would imagine. Let us hear how your 30th reunion goes. Mine was last summer. I did not go, but when I went home in August for my Mother's funeral I heard all about it. There was a $50 charge, per person for the event. Folks organized an alternative reunion at a local pub downtown. They said by 10:30P it was standing room only in the alternative event, funny!

CatLover: Thank you for the tip on the Pomegrande juice. I've seen it, and I am thinking is is not inexpensive. I'll try it just the same. I think I'll add some splenda to it more than likely.

Shad: Lots of luck with the tiles, 2 more down this weekend?

My doctor ask me if cancer runs in my family during my physical exam last week. I explained my maternal Grandfather passed away of some type of intestinal cancer about 30 years ago. Naturally, I began reading on this... here is an interesting article. It encourages less red meat, and more fish. This is how I've eaten until 3 years ago, when I 'tried' the low carb thang. I prefer fish and chicken actually.

Red Meat-Colon Cancer Link Grows

Eating Too Much Red Meat or Too Little Fish May Raise Colon Cancer Risk

By Jennifer Warner
WebMD Medical News Reviewed By Michael Smith, MD
on Tuesday, June 14, 2005

June 14, 2005 -- Eating too much red meat or not enough fish may increase your risk of developing colon cancer.colon cancer.

Researchers say the results confirm previous studiesprevious studies that have shown that eating large amounts of red or processed meat raises the risk of colon cancer while eating lots of fish has the opposite effect.

The study, which followed more than 500,000 men and women from 10 European countries, showed that people who ate the most red and processed meats had a higher risk of colon cancer than those who ate the least. Meanwhile, people who ate the most fish had a lower risk of colon cancer.

The results appear in the June 15 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Red Meat Raises Cancer Risk

In the study, researchers looked at the association between how much red or processed meats, poultry, or fish people ate and their risk of developing colon cancer over nearly five years of follow-up.

During that time, more than 1,300 cases of colon cancer were diagnosed among the participants.

But the study showed that colon cancer was more common among heavy red and processed meat eaters (an average of more than 5.6 ounces per day).

For example, researchers estimate that 1.71% of heavy meat eaters would develop colon cancer during 10-year period meat compared with 1.28% among those who ate the least (an average of less than an ounce per day).

The researchers found that the chance of developing colon cancer was higher with processed meats compared with just red meats.

They also found that the risk of colon cancer was lower among people who ate the most fish (an average of nearly 3 ounces per day) compared with those who ate the least (an average of about a third of an ounce per day).

For fish, the researchers estimate that 1.28% of heavy fish eaters would develop colon cancer during a 10-year period compared with 1.86% of those who ate the least amount of fish.

There was no link between poultry consumption and colon cancer risk.

Researchers say an estimated 70% of colon cancer cases could be avoided through changes in lifestyle in Western countries.


You know I never eat processed meats any more, do you guys? It is so full of sodium I just avoid it. My late gradfather ate lots of extra thick bologna, I remember munching on it with white bread, home grown tomatoes and lots of mayo!

Have a GREAT balance of the weekend!

[Catlover777]

Hal--yes, the juice is not cheap--though you only need a small glass a day. But I bet it is cheaper than most of the blood pressure meds--even if you only pay the co-pay!!

Of course, meditation is also effective and free--but most of us just can't fit it in.

[[email protected]]

Hello Ladies,

Mooz - my mom also has the white coat syndrom. When ever she know she has a visit her blood pressure always rises. She purchased a machine for the house and checks it their daily and at the grocery store. Always reads within one or two points. When she at the doctor it reads way higher. What a beautiful sunset.

Hal - I did my planting about a month ago. I planted my tomato's about two months ago. I started getting tomatos but now I have some kind of disease. I don't want to use pesticides so i'm doing the organic thing. Doesn't seem to work as well though.

Thin - Glad to hear from you. I know it's so hard to get motivated. And now with the heat here, I definitely don't want to spend time outside exercising. Sounds like you are going to have your summer full with family. I"m sure you nephew is having a great time with the fishing and swimming.

Shad - Hope you were able to get more tiles removed. What do you plan to put down? A different flooring or different tile?

Cat - A lady at work drinks that juice and she says it has helped her too.

Spent most of yesterday in, allergies still bothering me and it was to hot to be outside. This evening I went to our local festival and walked around, ate to much, but had a good time. Purchased a real cute bird feeder, so I'll have to set that up this week.

[Shad]

Planning to put in a laminate wood floor Patty. Will probably extend it right through the house except for the wet areas.

If I can get away from here early and get through the gym okay, maybe another tile tonight?

[Catlover777]

Hey, liked the therapist today.

Hot here--guess not nearly as bad as AZ.

Thinking of all of you.

[HalGal]

Good Tuesday Morning Everyone!

How are you guys doing? I am enjoying my time off, immensely. I am still on a schedule taking care of many of the 'things to do' that did not get done over the last few months. It is long, but as I make daily progress it feels great. My biggest accomplishment is my deck. I only have a few more trays of flowers to plant, and then a few more cosmetic improvements and it will be ready for relaxing evenings by star and candle light. Ahhh....

I cannot say enough about the health food cooking show "Christina Cooks" on PBS. If you have a chance, go on line, see when it is shown in your area and tune in. I think I'll begin taping this one. She also has a website that is awesome... Here it is again: http://www.christinacooks.com/

I found this article on home exercise techniques to get us ready for summer clothing. Talk about a day late... But, no time like the present. My diet has been OP. I am proud of me. Now to move this body!

Fitness Ideas
Toning Tools
By Kimberly Dawn Neumann | 4/26/2005


Woo hoo – It's almost beach time! Sun, sand and, oh yeah ... swimsuits. But before you let a little piece of spandex send you into a spiraling panic, stop sarong shopping and get fit-focused instead.

"The absolute best tool for changing your body is resistance work," says Wini Linguivic, author of Lean, Long and Strong (Rodale, 2005). With that in mind, Linguvic has concocted a quick beach-toning routine that will tighten the areas you've kept under wraps all winter, specifically: glutes, legs, abs, and the back of your arms.

Committing to this workout can help you get beach-ready, says Linguvic, but the right mindset will make even more of a difference. "Don't think of this as a quick fix. Instead, focus on how strong and balanced you'll feel when you work out regularly," says Linguvic. "Looking great will then just naturally radiate out of that commitment to your body. And when you feel better, you'll be encouraged to keep working out for the long term."

Three times a week, complete one set each of the following exercises. For faster results, tack on 20 minutes of fat-burning cardio after each toning session.

Two-Towel Crunch: Lie on your back with your knees bent, feet flat on the floor, hands clasped gently behind your head, and a thick rolled-up towel beneath your lower back and another placed between your inner thighs. Keeping your lower back pressed into the towel and squeezing inner thighs together, contract abdominals by bringing your ribcage forward and lifting your head and shoulders off the mat. Pause for 2 seconds at the top of the contraction. Lower slowly and repeat. Start with 10 reps, adding 1 rep each workout until you reach 20.


Superwoman: Lie facedown on a spread towel. Extend arms above your head, legs straight behind your body. Rest your chin lightly on the floor with the neck long. Keeping hipbones pressed into the ground, simultaneously extend and lift head, shoulders, arms and legs a few inches from the floor. Do not "crunch" neck by tilting your head back. Pause for 2 counts at the top of this move, feeling the contraction in your glutes (rear end and back of thighs) and lower back. Lower slowly. Shoot for 10 reps, adding 1 rep each workout until reaching 20.


Drop Lunge: Stand in a lunge position (right foot front, left foot back, about 3-feet separating legs), knees soft, left heel lifted, torso erect, abs tight, hands on hips. Keeping torso upright and centered between legs, slowly bend your right knee (keeping knee over the ankle) until right thigh is parallel to the floor. Pause. Push right heel into the floor and squeeze glutes to straighten legs and return to starting position. Do 10 reps, switch sides. Add 1 rep each workout until you can complete 15.


Inner Thigh Squeeze: Lie on your left side, both legs extended, left elbow bent with hand supporting head, right hand pressed into the floor in front of your ribs. Keeping hips stacked on top of each other, abs tight, drop your right knee forward to the floor in front of your left leg. Maintaining a still torso, flex left foot and lift leg up and forward a few inches. Pause at top, squeezing inner thigh muscle. Lower leg. Complete 15 reps, switch sides.


Suspension Bridge: Lie on your back, knees bent, feet pressed into floor hip-width apart, arms down by sides, palms flat. Without arching your back, lift hips to form a diagonal line from your knees to shoulders. Pause at the top for 2 counts. Keeping hips even, slowly lower until they're suspended 2 inches from the floor. Don't touch hips to the floor between repetitions. Immediately lift again into bridge position. Complete 10 reps, working up to 15.


Bare-Your-Back Row: Holding a 5-10 pound dumbbell in each hand, stand with feet hip-width apart, knees slightly bent, shoulders over hips. With abs tight and back flat, hinge forward from your hips until your torso is nearly parallel to the floor. Arms hang down naturally from shoulders, palms turned in. Keeping arms tight to torso, simultaneously retract shoulder blades and bend elbows while pulling weights up toward body. Pause, squeezing your shoulder blades and elbows toward each other. Lower arms. Complete 12 repetitions.


One Arm Kickback: Hold a 5-10 pound dumbbell in your right hand, palm facing in. Stand, with your left hand resting on a chair back for support. Step your left leg front, right leg back, knees soft. Tilt torso slightly forward from hips. With your arm close to your body, bend your right elbow (90-degrees) and lift it slightly higher than your back. Keeping your upper arm stationary, extend from the elbow, straightening your arm behind your body. Pause. Slowly bend elbow to return to 90-degree starting position. Repeat 12 times, switch sides.

I lost 107 pounds a few years back, OK, 15 years ago. I had a scheduled, planned time for exercise almost daily. I looked and felt SO much better. With that said, pray for me I walk the walk, and not just talk. LOL.

Have a GREAT day girls!!!

[[email protected]]

Hello ladies,

Shad - Oh, that is the next thing I would like to do to my house. My carpet is old and I really want the laminate flooring. With a dog, he would scratch up the real thing, plus it cost more. I'm hoping to fit it in my budget my year end, or first of next year.

Hal - Busy bee! I got my a new patio poured back in April and I just love sitting out on the patio. I now have a rabbit who is leaving little dropping by my tomato plants. You'd think that having a dog with a doggie door would keep them away. Guess Blackie is not doing his job! I will have to check my tv guide and see when her programs are. I try and catch the tv food network ones programs. Got alot of tips from them.

Cat - i'm with you on the heat, today's high is 99 or 100. But i guess when I think of AZ, it's not so bad here.

Hope everyone is having a great day!

[HalGal]

Good Day Girls...!

OK, it is a sick world we live in, I am convinced. Our local cable station added a few new channels this week. One is Court TV. I've been glued to the live coverage of the sentencing hearing of a young woman that murdered her parents. I just don't understand. Up until this point in my life, I"ve pretty much ignored 'evil' as a real element of life on planet earth. That has changed, and I fear evil. I guess that may have something to do with the increase in blood pressure, huh?

Here is a neat recipe I found on a 'kids cooking' site. Yes, KIDS... it looks very healthy and very good.

Turkey Enchiladas

Serves 6 to 8
Turkey, corn, tomato, and black bean filling is baked inside a corn tortilla topped with a mild sauce and melted cheese.


2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for brushing

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour mixed with 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander and 1/2 teaspoon each chili powder and ground cumin

1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce

Salt

1 small onion, cut into 1/4-inch dice (about 1/3 cup)

12 ounces ground turkey

8 corn tortillas (6 inches in diameter)

1/3 cup frozen corn, thawed

1/3 cup rinsed and drained canned black beans

2 plum tomatoes, seeded and cut into 1/4-inch dice (about 1/2 cup)

Freshly ground pepper

1 3/4 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in medium pan over medium-high heat. Stir in flour mixture; add tomato sauce, 1 cup water, and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Simmer 10 minutes.

2. Heat remaining tablespoon oil in a large skillet over mediumhigh heat; add onion and turkey. Cook, stirring, until browned, 10 minutes. Brush tortillas with oil; warm in oven 3 minutes.

3. Stir corn, beans, and tomatoes into turkey; season with salt and pepper. Spread 1/2 cup sauce in an 8-inch baking dish. Top each tortilla with a spoonful of sauce, 1/2 cup turkey, and 1 tablespoon cheese. Roll up; place in dish. Cover with remaining sauce and cheese. Bake until heated through, 15 minutes.


I think I'll try this one. It would be good served as left over too.

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