Jewish Musings, Thursday 2/9

[lee058]

What’s on your mind — how to make kugel? This week’s Torah reading? Life goals? Prayer? We are all engaged in weight loss/weight maintenance journeys and we are all Jewish or at least interested in Judaism. We like to eat, we like to discuss. It is our goal here to provide each other support on our journeys, to share experiences, to call on our rich cultural heritage and texts, and to help each other grow spiritually.

Some of us take weekly turns starting the thread:

Angelika
Holly
Lee
Louise
Lynne
Peachy

And for those of you that stop by to read this thread without posting — you are welcome to do that but you are also welcome to chime in!

[lee058]

Good morning everybody. Hope you are all well. How about if today we build on yesterday's topic and discuss a change (or more than one, if you like) that you have made regarding your health? What was it? Was it difficult or easy? Did you take small steps or did you make the change all at once? What effect is it having on your life, your health, your family, and/or whatever else you want to talk about?

For me, one big change I have made since September was to start getting up very early to get DS to work by 6AM. This has had a profound effect on my sleep habits. Since I have sleep apnea, I have had insomnia for a long time, and often get up in the middle of the night. When I started going to bed earlier, I started waking up earlier during the night, and have (mostly) been able to get back to sleep in time to get some more sleep before having to get up for the day. Every once in awhile, I wake up before 4AM and just stay up, taking a nap during the afternoon. This change of getting up so early was made suddenly, and at first it was a bit difficult, but I am much more used to it now.

How has this affected my life? I actually usually feel better in the mornings than I used to. I need less coffee to wake up. I get DS to work on time and we both feel good about that (!!). I think my health is better because I feel less tired and grumpy in the morning.

Another change I have made is to see more doctors and to listen to them better. I feel that I am helping myself a great deal. I am exploring getting healthier with their advice, which I am taking more to heart now.

I will try and write more later. Have a peaceful day, Lee

[hollygail]

I'm from the hippie generation. In the 60s, I cut out added sugar (for the most part; I mean, le's face it, I was never going to cut out chocolate...), so the one time I made apple pie, I didn't add any sugar to the mixture (don't ask; the fact that I never made it again should answer any inquiries). I used 100% whole wheat (flour when I baked, kernels [whole wheat berries] for grain, etc.). I ate no processed foods. At one point (more like my middle 20s), I stopped eating red meat (and still don't). Very gradually, I went back to eating the way I had been raised (other than the beef, pork, lamb, that is). When I joined WW, I counted Momentum points. For two or three months I hovered at about two or three pounds over goal and to "shake things up" (as WW puts it), I tried the Simply Filling Technique and in 10 days my WI was between two and three pounds UNDER goal. And the SFT stressed whole foods and not processed foods. So I made a very definite change in what I was eating. (And I've been following SFT ever since and am still Lifetime at Goal; it's been, what, 6 years?)

[peachymom1]

I started getting up earlier in the morning too, and I find that I like being up and about when the world is quieter and slower.

Since we're down to one kid at home now, we cook, shop and do chores differently. The pace of life at home is slower, and I like it.

On a different subject, later this month I have the joy of my yearly mammogram and checkup with the gynecologist. I've been feeling different and strange in some ways, and I think I might finally be in menopause. The doctor will send me to the lab for a blood test, as he does every year now, so I'll know soon enough.

[louise]

We're in the middle of a snowstorm where I am - may get up to a foot. I am working from home today and glad I have some work I can actually do from home! To be honest, I will also be doing some of the Mishloach Manot shopping for my synagogue, but I will surely be busy all day. I'm especially glad about the food delivery program I'm on so I'm covered, snowstorm or not.

Will try to come back later with something on today's subject. I feel like I'm i a sea of change and am not sure what to contribute.

[savtele]

Boker Tov All! I never made it here yesterday, but here I am today!

Frieda - Mazal Tov on your DS's book! And it seems like a good time is being had by all!

I have been cutting back on added sugars - but then, sugar has really never been a big hang-up for me. If I have the choice of sugar or salt, salt usually wins out!

One thing I have done in the past 2 years -I get up at 6:30 AM. Every day. Work, work-out, or no plans at all - I'm up right about 6:30. I find that this "forces" me to think about bedtime at a reasonable hour (11-ish) and it causes me to think of meals in 3 definite increments. Otherwise I tend to "graze" all day long!

We did Costco shopping for Ingo & Bobbie yesterday - carried all the groceries in for them & put everything away. He's home, he's in good spirits - and he needs to be reminded that his wt limit (for lifting) at this time is 5#! (he has some broken ribs from chest compressions) I'm pretty sure he doesn't remember everything that is told to him - that was a boat-load of drugs that was pumped into his body to keep him alive - it's going to take a while to clear all that out before a "true" baseline can be ascertained.
Meanwhile - today I'm taking mom shopping.

I'll bbl to read.

Have a great day!

[happysavta]

The biggest change I've made in the last year is on being dependent on DH. He likes to drive; I never have enjoyed driving, so he always drove me around a lot. Since he started taking these long trips to China a year ago, I'm on my own. I think I can say that I've risen to the occasion. I drive myself around now, do things by myself, keep myself company and explore what it is I like to do (besides eat). I've found my courage. I was totally dependent on DH for all things technical involving the computer, the printer, the fax, the TV, the DVD. He's a techie; I'm "tech impaired". This year for the first time in my life, I called Tech Support for Cox Cable and rebooted the Ooma phone line, went to Sprint store for instructions, etc. Who knows? I might even start to pay bills online instead of writing out checks. Or maybe I'll learn out how to use the dishwasher instead of washing dishes by hand. Chaverot, it looks like I'm coming out of the cave and into the modern world.

[lee058]

Hi again everybody. Having read all the comments so far, I think that we are a resourceful, adaptable group, and I'm proud of us!

My part of VA missed the snow, hooray! It did rain earlier, but the sun is shining now. It's windy and the lights have flickered, but hopefully we won't have any problems with the electricity or trees (!).

I'll be back later. Have a peaceful rest of the day, Lee