Aug. 23, 2009 Healing a Sick Body
Last night, illness hit. I felt the first moment of it, and counted out about 30-40 minutes before I took action to counteract this illness with a little medicine. It took about an hour for the symptoms to easy - though I knew I was not healed yet, but I was able to function again. This morning, there are no signs of the illness at all.
Now, the following might be too much information, so be forewarned.
I was chatting on FB and on the phone.. - yes, multi-tasking - ineffectively. I put one on hold while I finished up with the other, and then went to my FB conversation after hanging up the phone. Before going back to FB, I went to the bathroom to empty my bladder, but I had just done that 10 minutes before - not so unusual given I had just had a coffee. I thought nothing of it, other than there wasn't much to empty even though I felt like I was going to burst.
As I talked on FB, was becoming increasingly more antsy - feeling more and more like I had to pee. I interrupted my conversation to go pee again.. And then again in another 10 minutes. 20 minutes into this conversation I realized I had a bladder infection. I was hardly able to sit still, the pain was so great. I went to the basement to find my cranberry tablets after about 30 minutes of pain, and took a dose equivalent to about 24000 mg of cranberry concentrate..about a liter of cranberry juice.
I had to get off FB. I couldn't concentrate on the conversation and I couldn't sit still. I had to empty my bladder every time it got filled with about a tablespoon full of urine. I curled up with Stuart, and then got up, and then curled up.. finally I put some arnica gel on my abdomen about the place where the bladder is, and then a few minutes later took some arnica pellets. Finally I sat with a hot compress on my belly and was able to watch tv with Stuart. An hour and a half after I had had my first inclination that I was sick, I was on the road to healing, on the road to being out of pain. I took another dose of cranberry on my way to bed - about 2 hours after the first sign of sickness, and again in the morning I took another dose of cranberry. It's now mid-day and I have no symptoms at all.
Conventionally, I would have had to go to a hospital, as there's no walk in clinic in the area.. or I'd have driven to the city to an all night clinic (is there one in the city???) I would have gotten a prescription for antibiotics - after they tested me for UTI - and then it would take a good 24 hours before the antibiotics kicked in - and I'd have to take it 6 days. - The cost of this is probably in the range of $200-300 when you think of the drive, the cost of the Dr., who is paid by the government with my taxes, and then the pharmacist would have to dispense the medicine and I'd have to pay for the antibiotic, and then drive back.
Conversely, my personal education has taught me about how to heal myself - cost free, only cost me time and energy. The bottle of cranberry tablets (which I keep on hand as this is something I get about once every year and a half) cost about $10-15. The arnica is something I have on hand for all kinds of health concerns - the two kinds cost about $20 combined.... for a total of less than $40 for my healing in less than 12 hours.
Why is it that we have allowed our culture to rely on the medical establishment for every little ailment. Why have we not retained even basic healing culture. I fully admit that there are things I can not deal with alone and need help with - I could not have survived my appendicitis without the assistance of surgeons to remove it.. but do I really need to seek medical care for something like a UTI or Kidney infection (which is where it usually manifest in my body?) I was once hospitalized for 8 days with a kidney infection after Myles was born... I can't imagine if that was the course of action each time I had a baby.. and suffered a kidney infection. Instead, after Rourke was born, I treated myself preventatively with UVA URSI (Bearberry) and then when the crisis hit, cranberry tablets. Every time I have learned to be quicker about recognizing the symptoms of the illness.. and have learned better techniques to prevent it from happening at all. I didn't get one after Elias at all ( first time after 6 births!) But I also realize that during my whole pregnancy, I had been supporting my kidneys in a much better way - which was also the cause of my hypertension problem - week kidneys.
So I guess this illness - this UTI in the bladder, should be telling me something - that I'm again slipping up and need to support my kidneys better, provide for better health for them.. I need to go back to taking my Cal, Mag and potassium more regularly.
Live and learn! |
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Aug. 11, 2009 A Run After 10 Days
Last time I went for a run, it was a great run, but I guess I didn't get to stretch to cool down properly, because my knee and shoulder both hurt afterwards. So, I took the 10 days to let them heal and went out again on Sunday. I didn't feel strong enough to do a 20 minute run, so I went back to the walk 5, run 5, walk 3, run 5, walk 2, run 5, cool down. I took the camera with me and snapped a few photos, but it wasn't necessarily a WISE thing to do, at one point I was trying to click a picture and I tripped over a rock in the path. I put away the camera after that and only snapped photos when I was walking.
I wanted to share with you the lovely sounds of running on a dirt road.. I really had to stifle my heavy breathing so you could hear the bugs and the dog.. what you can't hear unfortunately is the birds.. at one point there was a hawk crying out as he flew away from me.
I'm going to try and go out again today (Tuesday) |
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Jul. 27, 2009 20 Minute Run
The brain is the most important factor in every challenge. The muscles in your body can usually accomplish the challenge you set before it.It's the muscle of your brain, if it' is weak, then you'll never meet your challenge.
Weeks ago when I started this adventure into getting fit, I had the desire to be able to run, but I knew, that without a proper plan, that I'd give up, because the challenge seemed too much for my weak brain. I found a program which I knew was designed for novices. As a matter of fact, it was described as a program to get you off the couch and into a 5 Mile run in 9 weeks... it expected me to be out of shape. I'm pretty sure it expected my mind to be out of shape too.
You see, the first few weeks, the increments were small, minute changes to the program, and it gave my brain time to become accepting of each increment, changing from 60 seconds of running, to 90 seconds of running and doing that for three days until my brain and body accepted the workout.
Today my brain got a BIG Workout. This 5th week, the body goes from a 5 minute run, to an 8 minute run to a 20 minute run. Meeting the challenge of increasing from 5 minutes to 8 minutes was quite a stretch, I was having to really think about breathing and calm my heart rate and really refrain from looking at the watch to see how much time was left. I was really glad for the 5 minute walk between the two 8 minute runs, though I didn't need all 5 minutes to regain my breathing and lower heart rate.
Today, the challenge was walk 5 minutes, run 20 without stopping. The brain needed a plan. I decided to run on the dirt road which is straight across the road. It's a nice peaceful path through a wheat field, a flax field, and past a cow pasture, with some small hills, and soft dirt and a few little rocks to navigate. I know I can do a workout by going to the end of the dirt road, turn around and come home.. it's more defined than running down the highway, where you can turn around at anytime. My mental challenge was to not look at my watch until I reached the far end of the road - the point where I turned around. I expected the watch would read about 8 minutes, but I was pleased to read 10 minutes! I turned around and knew that if I ran back along the road, I'd be able to get to about the farm equipment and then have a cool down walk back to the house. It made it easier to meet the physical challenge when I was working on meeting a mental challenge at the same time.
Also, the change of scenery helped. The wheat fields are green, the flax fields are blue and the cattle pasture had a herd of herefords lazing in the pasture, and they became excited as we (the dogs and I) came along, they all stood up - all but the bull - and a few ran along the fence line with us a scosh.
So, the leap from 8 minutes to 20 minutes - physically was easy - and because I set my mind on mental challenges too, it too was easy to meet. I can now proudly say, I can RUN 20 minutes without stopping! and without being winded and without being in pain, and without causing a cramp, without an asthma attack, and without complaining! |
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Jul. 21, 2009 Don't Proceed Without First Reading the Directions
OH SIGH.. I did it again.. I proceeded without first reading the directions.
I thought my workout for the whole of week 5 was the same thing every day.
Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then:
- Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
- Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
- Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
- Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
- Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
But it wasn't.
I did that workout twice about a week and a half ago, then took a week off, and tonight did another one just like this, with 20 situps and 30 crunches and 10 pushups....
but that wasn't the workout at all.
It was MUCH HARDER.
You see, day two of week 5 should have looked like this
Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then:
- Jog 3/4 mile (or 8 minutes)
- Walk 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
- Jog 3/4 mile (or 8 minutes)
And day 3 of week five should have looked like this
Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog two miles (or 20 minutes) with no walking.
Ah well, I guess what I'll do is consider that today was day 1 of week 5 and do day 2 tomorrow and day 3 some other time this week.
However, the nice thing is, I am seeing results. I still can't fit into the GOAL SKIRT, but I can see better definition in my stomach, and I think I'm holding in my stomach muscles better. I don't think I've lost weight, however, I did stand on a scale at a friends house and I'm 153. That means that according to her scale, I'm the same as I was before getting pregnant with all my angel babies in 2007. I don't want to go by weight, I don't want to be a skinny unhealthy weakling, I want to be strong and healthy.. and i think that 140 would be the least I'd want to be.. I don't want to look 16 again. |
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Jul. 7, 2009 Menu Planning
Tuesday
Vegetarian Ratatouille Recipe Herbed French Vegetable Stew with Peppers, Zucchini and Eggplant
Bread
Spicy Red Pepper Risotto
Wednesday
Slow-Cooker Stew with Beans, Sweet Potatoes and Corn
Veggie Pizza
 Roasted some yams, onions, garlic and red peppers earlier in the afternoon. |
 Artichoke and Asiago tapanade base, with my roasted veggies, and mozzarella. |
 Roasted Red Pepper tapanade base with mushrooms, broccoli and mozzarella |
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Basil pesto, zucchini, red pepper and cilantro and Mozarella |
 And yes, we ate all three pizzas along with the stew |
Thursday
Lunch - picnic sandwich with friends, watermelon, lemonade
Broccoli & Bean Salad in Mustard Dressing (Nita Mehta's Vegetarian cooking book)
Pita bread
Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
Friday
Mung Bean and Butternut Squash Soup
Backed Chicken breast with turkey bacon and mushrooms
 Challah - 6 braid
 
Greek Salad
Saturday
Broccoli & Bean Salad in Mustard dressing (Nita Mehta's Vegetarian cooking book)
Sunday
Beet And Mango Salad With Curried Mango Dressing Recipe
Monday
Tuesday |
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Jul. 5, 2009 That Was Then, This Is Now Jul. 3, 2009 Finished Week 4's workouts. Jun. 28, 2009 The Next Step Workout
I have just done the first workout in week 4.. the next challenge to my heart and lungs and muscles - WOO HOO.. No knee pain though. And I have a new tag-along. Janney came on her bike. It was hot though, it's 1130 am, I missed my early morning run in the cooler air. And the traffic was bad - early mornings are much better, there's usually only one or two cars, today there were dozens - hard to manage with a little girly on a wiggly bike.
Today's workout
| Speed |
Duration |
Actual |
| Walk |
5 min |
5:03 |
| run |
3 min |
3:19 |
| walk |
1:30 min |
1:19 |
| run |
5 min |
4:58 |
| walk |
2:30 min |
2:45 |
| run |
3 min |
3:01 |
| walk |
1:30 min |
1:33 |
| run |
5 min |
4:58 |
| cool down walk |
5 min |
2:19 |
Nothing really hurt much, until the last 3 minutes of the last 5 minute run, the rest was pretty smooth. In the first 5 min run, I didn't even look at my watch until I'd already run 3 minutes. How cool is that! I remember 4 short weeks ago I thought running 60 seconds was going to blow my lungs out!
I wonder how my mum is doing, she's doing this too. I'll have to call today!
Oh, and on a prayer request note.. my BP is up again. I won't shock you with the numbers, just know that it's HIGH. I've started taking my cal mag and potassium again, I guess I'll have to realize that I'll have to take them forever, not just during pregnancy.
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After 3 weeks of doing my program.. I fell off the wagon. Well, it was you know THAT week and so I went 10 days without working out. I was slapping my wrist for such bad behaviour - but you know what, the rest was good.
Today i went out, got a good stretch, set two timers, my watch to tell me how long the whole workout was (25.5 minutes) and the IPOD to tell me my laps. I started walking my brisk walk to get my heart rate up, and when I started my first run - it was so good, no aching, I felt strong and able to take good strides, full of energy, heart and lungs working well.... Here's the workout I did
| Warmup |
Run |
Recovery Walk |
| 5 minutes |
2 min |
180 seconds |
| |
3 min |
3 min |
| |
2 min |
180 seconds |
| |
3 min |
3 min |
| |
2 min |
2 min |
I then did another stretching cool down, shower and then joined the family for prayer.
All of the runs were energetic and I felt strong. I ran hard... only taking it easy on the last 2 minute run. I haven't had a workout like this before, I guess this is the beginning of feeling fit and getting healthier. I don't think I've lost pounds, but I have noticed my stomach doesn't stick out as far, I think my muscles are getting stronger. I think I'll do another week and then take new photos- to compare with those I took at the beginning of the workouts.
I've also been eating more raw vegetables, and other salads/veggies. I'm trying to make an effort to eat more veggies and fruits as a greater proportion of my diet.
However, I slacked off on the drinking of water and I noticed the negative effects on my milk supply. We had to get a different source of water to drink, and so the bottles weren't there to be taken as I needed. We've gone back to the old source, and my water consumption is back up.
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Jun. 8, 2009 Week 3, Workout 1
The assigned workout for this week is, walk briskly for 5 minutes, then run 90 seconds, walk 90, run 180, walk 180, run 90, walk 90, run 180, walk 180. That's a total of 23 minutes. After doing the workout, I took out the van to see what the distance was.. 1.8miles, or 2.9kms.
Just so you know, I did do the 3rd workout of the second week, but I just didn't blog it. I did 20 situps and 20 pushups after that workout.
Today I didn't do any extras, just the assigned workout. My knees didn't like the workout at all. I don't know if I'm not planting my foot properly, or if it's some other problem, but my knees are really aching. I put arnica on them immediately after the workout, and took some internally too.
Because I went after dinner, my body was full of food.. and coffee.. and it wasn't such a good thing. It wasn't horrible, but I have to say, I prefer running early in the morning on an empty stomach. Rourke didn't come with me.. nor did he come last Thursday.. I didn't invite him. Sometimes a mom needs some time alone. He's not the one making me need time alone, but I just needed it.
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We've made a change to our family routine. Stuart and I decided that everyone needs to be up in time to pray together in the morning before we all go our separate ways, for now that's 8am, and it'll move to 6 am when he returns to the University. Elias naps at 11, so that's my hour to work with Janney on school. Then dinner is scheduled for 6, followed by clean up, and then prepping the little kids for bed. The boys can use the computer after clean up until the kids are in bed, and then at 9, we take an hour to read scripture and do other studies. 10:30 is bedtime for the boys and 11 is our bedtime, so.. it is now 11 so I must get off to bed now.. nite nite. |
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