Just like a yo-yo!

No, I'm not referring to the Osmond's hit song in the 70's.  But, just like a yo-yo, here I go again on the proverbial yo-yo cycle to loose these creepy pounds that I've put on in the last 2 years whilst trying to avoid my chronological age  Let's get wound up!

Aging: The Snake

As I have posted, and will post again, on "Vain Worries," I have struggled with the idea of turning 50.  I felt my life was over.  I laid down and wouldn't get up, until I laid down and couldn't get up.  Yep, several months ago, I was in the floor, and couldn't get up without help.  I had slipped on ice, fell, and hurt myself; nevertheless, I couldn't get up.  I felt like I was in a "Life Alert" commercial.  My  4-year old niece had me mummified in ACE bandages on that wet kitchen floor by the time her mother came home from work.

On Saturday, I went to the mall with my sister, and her daughter.  The mall had a petting zoo coupled with a children's service provider fair.  It was sponsored by Momtopia, the group that provides monthly entertainment for children who aren't in preschool, or day care.

There was a petting zoo where an Albino Burmese Python was available to handle.  Well, my bucket list has a few things on it, and a few scratched off: I added handling the snake at the last minute.  I felt like Brittany Spears in Concert.  This glorious silky snake draped around my neck: me smiling with my toothless grin. (We'll get to why I'm missing teeth in another post.) Oh, did I mention I don't like snakes? I was a bit shaky, but bravely enjoyed the 3.5 seconds it was wriggling up my back.

The snake handler snapped my picture, and when I looked at it I thought, "who is that wretched woman holding that snake?"  I was unrecognizable to myself.  The once beautiful woman I saw every morning had transformed into a hideous, fat, unkempt, old lady in need of hair color.  Although, while younger, I didn't think myself beautiful.  Sadly, I look back and think what bullying, and low self-esteem cause you to miss.  (But, that's another story too.)

Aging will sneak up on you like a snake, wriggling on your back, and attack! You wake up one morning wondering where youth went.

52, the new 32?!

My favorite age was 32.  I was a single working woman with two children, happy in her career.  The clothes on the racks in stores were elegant, well fitted, and affordable.  My skin was still aglow, and Clinique got a big chunk of my salary.  I may not be able to look 32 again, but at 52, can make myself feel that way again.  But, it takes determination, a plan, work, and follow through.  Change can't happen with out those objectives.

Barbara Stanwick's character in the "Thorn Birds" makes a dramatic statement whilst trying to woo Cardinal DeBricashaw.  Basically, she said her youthful self was trapped in an aged body, but she still "feels, needs, and loves."  Yes!  That is exactly the way I feel.  Aging is a constant: how we handle aging is the variable.

I hate that "crying" feeling

Yesterday while taking my Sunday afternoon rest, I accidentally started my old iTunes playlist I made several years ago before my hearing got worse.  I'm also a late deafened adult who is also trying to reconcile her hearing loss and the impact it has made on her life.

The song"Turn the Beat Around" featuring Gloria Estevan came on; it was my high stepping (marching in place) song during the 90's.  So, I jumped up, and for 3.5 minutes did a cardiovascular workout.  It felt good!  I did that several times yesterday; although, the songs sound vastly different because of my change in, and loss of hearing.

My niece saw me doing it, and decided she wanted in on the action. And, we agreed to exercise together every day.  I showed her my even older exercise music, Disco Mickey Mouse on DVD, on Ebay.  I'm going to have to order it for us. That made her even more excited.

Back to crying.  Last night after I went to bed, I was thinking about my ragged, aging body, and began to weep at how different it feels, how tired it gets, and how droopy it looks.  When I asked if he saw my snake picture, my son even confirmed my assessment by remarking, "You really need to loose weight."  He has lost 30 pounds plus.

Sobbing to my beloved, my husband, in his loving, jovial tone said, "It doesn't do any good to cry, because it can't change anything.  Being old beats the alternative!"  He meant dead.  I did feel better.  He has that ability to uplift.  I realized only I have the ability to change anything.  And, I woke up at 52 and a half years old from my "turning 50" haze.

I've wasted two and a half years of my life worrying about something I can't change.  It bothers me to see the microwave or my little Hay Day game count down the seconds.  Those are seconds never to return.  And, as a Christian, I fell back on my "go to" verse, "Only one life will soon be passed: only what's done for Christ will last."  Wow, I've got a lot of making up to do.

My Fitness Pal

"My Fitness Pal" is an application that can be downloaded on your iPhone. There is a database where one can scan the bar code on a food product, and it brings up the nutritional information.  Also, the ability to manually enter food is available should the bar scan not recognize the product, which is rare.

A profile can be built and MFP will tell you how many calories you can take in.  It calculates diet, and exercise, and even has the ability to let you interface with other users by friending them.  I have used it half-heartedly in the past, but today, once again, my passion for loosing weight "this time" has begun.

When I opened it up this morning, my only friend had posted, "praying for strength today."  I replied, "so am I."

The End

We never know when our time is up be it 12, 22, 32, 42, 52, or 102.  But, how we use our time is what is important.  Do you speak kind words, are you patient, trustworthy, truthful, conscientious, timely, abiding...  Those qualities are important ways treat those around us.  It makes for a happy person.  But, treating yourself the way you treat others is just as important as treating others the way you treat yourself.

Manage your mind, body, and spirit by eating healthy, exercising, investing in yourself at whatever your age.  As you age, do it with grace and charm.  Yes, that sounds cliche'.  I thought so too, but it is the truth.  Have a great day!

Water, Agua, H20,

Our bodies are approximately 60% water, give or take a percentage point or two.  And, obesity lessens that to about 45%.  Without water, our body can't function properly.

Did you know that most of our cravings are actually our bodies crying out for water.  Juices, tea, soda, and the like are liquids, but don't function as a substitute for plain old water.

"But, I don't like water!"  It can be an acquired taste, and whilst trying to acquire that taste, use fruits to flavor your water.  Pinterest, and other online venues have plenty of fruit and water recipes.  My favorite is watermelon, and mint water!

Water is an amazing thing actually!  Just two molecules of hydrogen, and one molecule of oxygen.  These combine to make this glorious liquid we drink, cook with, shower in, and even stay cool in the summer by swimming!  Interesting, isn't it!

Start the day with a glass of water.  It helps replenish the body (and kidneys) after a long night of work filtering impurities out of the body.  Drink a glass before meals.  It helps fill the stomach so you eat less, but feel full.  And, drink a glass before bed so your body will be hydrated and can perform the filtration process all over again.  Five down, three to go!

"I have water weight gain."  Yes, and your body is telling you, I NEED WATER!  Drinking water helps alleviate water weight.  It takes a few days, but it will break loose, and let go.  Just like starvation mode, and weight gain when severely limiting calorie intake, water weight is the body's attempt to store what it needs in times of crisis.  Unless told otherwise by your physician, drink up!

Do your body a favor, drink 8 8 oz glasses of water a day.  Eight ounces is only one measuring cup. That's not too much for the body to ask, is it?!

My 2 Cents

Diatribe is defined as a prolonged conversation on a particular subject.  So, in naming this new blogspot, I found it appropriate to use Dietribe since it will be a prolonged discussion on the who, what, when, where, why, and how people diet.

Several years ago, a diet program popped up called "Liveit," which is how we should view our nutritional lifestyle.  We need to eat to live, not live to eat.

When one hears diet, we automatically think, "going on a diet to loose weight."  When, in actuality, a diet is the way we nourish our body.  We can have poor dieting habits which deprive our bodies of proper nutrients or good dieting habits which nourish our bodies.  However, bad or good dieting habits can cause weight gain, or weight loss. 

Our bodies are machines designed much like automobiles.  We need fuel and maintenance to run at peak proficiency.  Fuel is the foods we take in, and maintenance is the exercise we exert.  Just like a car, our poorly maintained bodies won't last very long, yet, we can't shop for a new body like we can shop for a new car.

Sadly, I've not maintained my body as I should have, as I've gone through my life in a yo-yo of sorts with exercise and good nutritional habits, then bad ones.  And, as many of you, wish I could go back and start my life over making better choices regarding my lifestyle.

Too, I see so many friends, and relatives who struggle with weight loss and self-image, and it seems to be the sole focus of their lives.  Every waking moment is focused on what they eat, how much they exercise, what the scales say.  It's an obsession. No wonder their lives don't improve, the "diet" consumes their mind. 

I have had to step back and ask myself, "why do you eat?"  Am I upset? Am I bored? Am I hungry, or just have an appetite for something?  

Fortunately, it was discovered I was insulin-resistant, which meant I have a predisposition to diabetes.  Taking metformin has helped tremendously.  It also reduces my cravings.  Many people with weight problems have insulin resistancy.  

Insulin resistancy is the body's inability to properly use insulin.  This can cause weight gain, and increased appetite.  Stay tuned to future blogs regarding insulin resistancy.

Stomach surgery is on the rise, but often times proves unsuccessful because the mind is such a huge part of why we eat.  And, until the causes of appetite are addressed, these surgeries don't heal this illness.

Yes, over eating is an illness just like alcoholism.  It's an addiction!  And, I feel, it's the hardest addiction to over come because food isn't something we can just quit doing, like cigarettes, alcohol, or pornography.  You HAVE to eat to live, so managing that addiction is difficult.

Other topics are just flooding my mind, like self-esteem, finding clothes that fit, and other topics associated with dieting, or living!

I do hope you continue to follow "My Dietribe" and add your comments so we can help each other improve our minds, bodies, and spirits!