just a snapshot of a piece of a day…

Hubby woke me up early today. He wanted coffee, breakfast, the trash taken out, and his mustache and nails trimmed back. He started to give me more jobs and I caught myself pick at him for turning on lights. “Stop it, Amber (yes, I talk to myself like that).”  I I realized I just wanted to drink MY coffee – it was cold by then. We sat for his recording of Laramie. I wonder sometimes what it is about men and old westerns? I got him settled enough that he could take his shower and shave. Then I got ready to head out on an errand of my own.

I stopped by the Dollar Store as requested by my girlfriend and I stayed so we could talk for a few minutes. Some things suck as you get older – there’s no getting around them. Her husband’s dying of cancer and he’s approaching his last days. I haven’t seen Gilbert in a week or so and he’s very frail; 86 lbs. There’s not much of him left. Hospice has told her it won’t be long. I thought he was in his 70’s but he’s only 67.  I spoke with him for a moment and told him Steve says hello. He would have said it if he could have. I told Yvonne a bit of what to expect once her husband passes. She didn’t know the body voids after death. I expect she’ll call me when he gets close to the end. I get a bit pensive at times like this. I’ve been present at seven deaths. As hard as it is, it’s also an incredible honor.

Next, I hit the grocery store for the couple things I needed. I found uncured bacon on clearance for $3.29. I always buy it all when I get a markdown on bacon! Three packs for the freezer is a smart deal. I think I’ll make garlicky brussel sprouts with bacon and cheese, and a piece of salmon for dinner. The guys are having Beef Sausage, mac & cheese, and fresh green beans and biscuits.

I’ve turned on Dune to play in the background while I blog and clean.

I began a scarf last night to donate with my pile of knitted hats and headbands. I need to find a charity. I stumbled across a pdf of Rocky Mount charities. I may contact one or two. I’ve been wanting to volunteer for something local and it’s a good starting place.

My Kissy kitty is full of piss and vinegar – that’s Steve’s saying, lol

I have the rest of my day planned out to engage in miscellaneous idleness.  Cool phrase, don’t you think? Miscellaneous idleness – I know there was a time I’d have called most of what I do ‘a waste.’ Now, it’s just what I do.  It’s living. Every day is open for other things, as needed. Dishes if I feel like it;  laundry, probably. Cooking and knitting – of course. Just stuff.

Had an Idea

Hubby has been wanting something sweet and all I have in the house are things to sweetEN. So I’m making sugar free Jello and am going to whip my homemade coconut cream yogurt into it. Raspberry. I’m excited.

• 1 small pkg sugar free gelatin, flavor of your choosing.
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1/2 cup cold water (I cut the cold water by 1/2 a cup)
• mix with a whisk until dissolved
• refrigerate 1 hour or until it begins to thicken
• beat 5 oz of coconut cream yogurt into the gelatin until it foams
• Pour into serving glasses
• return to the fridge for 2 hours

I’ll let you know if any part of it doesn’t work. lol If you are like me, you’ll eat it anyway. I don’t see why it wouldn’t. My mom used to make regular Jello back in the 70’s and beat cool whip into it. I haven’t had a recipe of the sugary stuff in years. NOW it comes back to me, after my kids are grown and I never made it for THEM. I’m saving it for the grands.

Research

So this morning I decided to do some specific research to see how my medications may be affecting my weight; Gabapentin, Amitriptyline, Atorvastatin,  Fluoxetine. What the heck am I taking these for today?

I want my new Way Of Eating to work, and none of these are conducive to that goal. I don’t have high cholesterol. I always wondered if I REALLY had Fibromyalgia. Yes, I struggle with depression. I cry. Who wouldn’t after 8 yrs of unemployment and a husband who had a stroke? I am a caregiver AGAIN and there is nothing I can do about it. My son has Asperger’s and there is nothing I can do about it. I’ve been fat all of my adult life. I am disabled due to obesity – the judge didn’t really say a thing about degenerative discs or Fibromyalgia – he simply said because I am so fat I can’t work. Humiliating.

Today I am trying to do better for myself and fix my life. God knows I need the disability money, but what if I could fix my health? Wouldn’t that be a better aim? So I am going to slowly lower the medication levels after my Feb. dr’s appointment. These meds can cause skeletal degeneration of muscles, joint issues, and depression. It’s not funny, but I don’t know why I laugh anyway. Talk about a Catch 22. Not to mention my crumbling teeth . . .

So – that is my plan. I am sticking with Keto no matter what because my PAIN is gone. There are specific times I need Ibuprofen, but that is all I need. I’m able to take 2, 200mg tablets to address my pain. I haven’t taken my prescribed 800mg (that’s 800 mg 3 times a day = 2400 mg a day) since September! That has to mean something.

I was listening to a Dr. Berg talk about healing one’s self to begin losing weight. I took his free questionnaire and it came back with personal signs through symptoms to look at. It makes total sense to me. High cortisol (stress), high estrogen (PCOS), Low Vitamin D (already knew this one), K2, and potassium (expecting this one). I need to look into what “Low Bile” means. Insulin Resistance and adrenal failure are particular ‘givens’. OKAY – I have a starting point. I can’t spend money to look into these things and I don’t believe I need to. Fixed income is a tough place to be, but it has to be doable. I can’t depend on money to maintain my health.

After a bit of looking online, low bile/stasis of the bile – natural treatment that goes along with Keto, is Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) and lemon juice in water with a bit of honey if you want it. Apparently I’m not doing these things way often enough.

Delima is getting everything I need in a particular PLAN for ‘my’ life. I want Keto for the pain relief. I also can’t figure out how to eat and space foods to work in a 6 hr window because the intermittent fasting is the how I can get the Keto to work. Examples like bone broth for my gut health, and coffee with coconut oil, healthy fats, enough protein, spinach for Betaine; it’s like constant eating/drinking. Without being able to chew things properly, who knows if health is even possible. There is so much to learn to get it all right. I guess one foot in front of the other has to be the starting point.

Loving leftovers

Here’s a brief description of my Keto journey so far . . .

I began on September 5th, 2017. I have gone down 18-25 lbs since then. I just don’t seem to lose anymore. Postmenopause is a different creature. If I keep my carbs low and my fats high, my proteins are at about 15% – carbs at 5% and fats at 80%. I take my supplements and I’m also using collagen/protein in my coffee once a day. I could drink BulletProof coffee all day – I’m not hungry and I feel so much better. It is frustrating to keep on the plan so well and not lose. I had a salad with Tuna and pecans and blue cheese dressing on it for dinner last night and it was so good and then I ate nothing at all (except a small coffee with HWC and a tsp of MCT oil) until 2pm. I just had an 8oz cup of soup (leftover from dinner) and I made a second coffee with HWC. I’m about to take my supplements for the day as well. The ‘Ketostick’ says I am not in Ketosis.

Frustrating, but it’s about my health first and foremost. I’m 57 and have been fat since my first pregnancy at 18 years. That is 39 years of obesity – I know it’s going to take some time. I think I need to settle down and just do what I’m supposed to do.

Today I moved furniture and am deep cleaning the house. I need a shower lol. I forgot the water I’d turned on to soak dishes in. My son caught my mistake and told me to “be careful.” Cortisol abounds and Fibro brain fog still gets me. It’s much better than it used to be 🙂

There are cats outside that are driving my dogs crazy. One is in heat and all the stray males have made a beeline to my front porch. The little gray girl is begging to come inside and the males are fighting. Ugh. Poor babies. I wonder if there is spay and release program in Rocky Mount?

I guess that’s it. We have salad and salmon for dinner later. My workspace is clear, the water jug is full and I have laundry to tackle. Yep, it’s evolving into a productive day.

 

I call ‘do it again’ on this soup!

Tonight’s dinner was ready in about 30 minutes. I had everything but the eggplant prepped in advance. It was quick and good and everyone had plenty.

• 1 chopped eggplant,
• 1 cup chopped mushrooms,
• 1/4 cup chopped onion,
• 1/4 cup chopped bell pepper,
• 1 stick of butter,
• 1 tsp curry powder,
• 1 TB garlic powder,
• 1/2 tsp paprika,
• 1 TB minced garlic,
• 1 cup homemade chicken broth (I had some in the freezer)
• 2 tsp pink Himalayan sea salt,
• 1/2 TB coarse ground pepper,
• 1 (12 oz) bag small frozen shrimp.
• 6 cups of fresh baby spinach
• 4.5 oz can of coconut cream

After everything cooks, check seasonings. Put the fresh baby spinach on top and work into the soup. If you want to chop it, no biggie. I added another cup chicken broth and another sprinkle of garlic powder.

Next stir in a 4.5 oz can of coconut cream. Let simmer for a couple minutes and serve.  Putting all ingredients into a recipe calculator, it came out 46.7 carbs, 19.8 fiber, 95 g protein, 119 g fat, and 1,593 calories total, divide by – 5 servings. Not too bad for totals.

The guys had theirs over rice, and I had mine as soup… I think it’s very good and Keto, too!

 

Gotta put stuff someplace, right?