Thought of the Day #279 - Wii Active

After a several week hiatus, I'm back doing the Wii Active workouts.
It's crazy how it seems so much harder after not doing it for a long
while. *pooped*

Thought of the Day #264 - Tumor Followup

As a followup to the recent "Tumor?" TotD, I'm happy to report that the
bump on my pinkie is almost gone, without medical intervention. Not a
tumor! Yay!

Thought of the Day #260 - Variable pricing

We would never put up with variable pricing on electricity or gas, so
why should we accept variations in the charges for cable television from
household to household? We don't really have options to choose the cable
provider due to contracts with municipalities. (Don't bother suggesting
satellite which I had a few years ago and had horrible connectivity.)
So, the cost should not vary from home to home in the same area since
there is absolutely no applicable competition.

Thought of the Day #258 - Tumor?

While I don't really think it's a tumor, a recently discovered ball
under the skin on my pinky, the thought has crossed my mind. Knowing
just enough about disease to be dangerous is a bad thing. For now, I
will just obsess about the ball. If it changes I might consult a
professional. Maybe. You know there are really only four options - live
with it; it will go away on its own; it will go away with treatment; or
I'll die from it.

Thought of the Day #235 - Medical Theory

It's been a while since I've come up with a medical theory. It's time,
yes?
So, here it is...
The thyroid controls metabolic rate which can affect pretty much every
basic function of the body. Hypothyroidism slows the metabolic rate in
those afflicted, resulting in a slower pulse, slower hair growth, lower
body temperature, etc.

I'm thinking that the growth of tumors could be slowed in those put into
a hypothyroid state. (Granted, the side effects of hypothyroidism could
negate the benefits of the slowed tumor.) Or maybe the tumor cold be
somehow exluded from the benefits of the thyroid hormone? Not sure how
that would work as my physiology knowlwdge is limited.

Completely worthless theory? Anyone?

Another thyroid theory...less thought out than the last (and the last
wasn't well mulled), but ya know...lemme just throw it out there. Not
sure at all about this, but I'm thinking that a mild hypothyroid induced
state could slow aging.
Maybe? Maybe not...but ya know, the search for the fountain of youth is
neverending...

Thought of the Day #207 - Creeping Crud

The virus/infection that wouldn't die! I've had a cough, hoarse voice, and varying degrees of fatigue since being in Vegas mid-July. Enough already! I start feeling pretty good and then...well...then it comes back...like a bad penny! Tonight, my voice is hoarse again and slightly "cottony" just like when the beast first found my body. When will it end? I guess there are three options 1. it will kill me 2. it will die off or 3. I will live with it forever. I'm hoping that it's not the latter.

Thought of the Day #153 - EA Active for the Wii

I've had the Active program for 10 days and have completed eight 22
minute workouts. So far, I like it a lot!

I've had some trouble fitting the leg strap (it fits my knee, but just
barely), so all of my workouts have been cardio and upper body...and
consequently it's sweetly low impact. I am planning on getting a pair
of stretch pants and apply a little pocket to hold the wii nunchuck,
so eventually, I'll get on to the full workouts. Until then, I am
skipping the leg pain.

There are several things I like about it. For one, unlike wii Fit,
someone supersize like me can still use this product. (Yes, fat people
do exercise!) The Active product does limit the profile weight to 300,
but it doesn't affect product play, unlike Fit which basically kicks
fatties off the machine. The best I can figure, your weight is used in
Active solely to calculate calorie burn during the workouts.

I also like that all of the exercises are available in three levels, so
if you're a workout lightweight, the low impact ~ease into it~ level is
great! Some are waaaay too slow for me, but I can imagine for elderly or
infirm, it would be perfect.
If you're used to working out in a gym regularly, this might be too
simplistic? I don't know for sure.

Finally, it's overwhelming positive motivation from the digital
trainers. From what I've heard about wii Fit, it's pretty rude and
nearly insulting. Who needs that??

Briefly, if you're looking to get a little bit more active, give EA
Active a try!

Thought of the Day #104 - Food Choices

I now rarely eat french fries. Most aren't that tasty and why eat
something if it's not very yummy nor good for your body? I'd rather
save the calorie expenditure on something I'll actually enjoy.

This has been a huge shift in mentality for me. Before, if it was on the
plate, and it was *ok* tasting, I would eat it. I'm getting pickier as I
get older, methinks, and I'm trying to listen more to what my body needs
and craves. It's tricky especially now that I'm starting to actually
know "hunger" due to the large amount of synthroid I'm on. (Who knew
about this hunger thing and didn't tell me??)

I'm not trying to lose weight, but rather get in touch with what I need.
I think as wee kids, we instinctively know what and how much our bodies
need to thrive, but we're lost in a field of advertising and
socialization surrounding food. Throw in emotional drama and we end up
eating things because they're there, we're stressed out and because the
television says we should consume, consume, consume.

I don't recall the person who said this...maybe Chopra? ...but
basically, we should be eating closer to the Earth. No, don't put your
ear to the dirt at dinner time! What it means is to eat things that are
less processed. So, a raw vegetable or fruit is one step from the Earth;
a grain shucked grain would be two steps; a cooked vegetable would be
two steps, too; a piece of animal flesh is three; a can of chili is
several steps; and a can of soda probably doesn't even rate on the
scales.
Basically, this theory is the opposite of all that is thrown at us ain
the advertising media. Nutrition and simplicty are rarely encouraged in
advertising. The less something is processed, the less potential for big
business profit, so why bother with simplicity?

Blah, blah...this could go on and on, but the theroy put simply: eat
simply and eat only what you like. I think this is possibly the best
way to secure good health.

Thought of the Day #86 - Eyeglasses

One can by a systemic medication like "plan b" aka "the morning after
pill" over the counter, but one can not purchase corrective lens
eyeglasses without a prescription. The optometrists union must be
pretty strong.

Granted, there are eye disorders that need to be discovered through
exams, so most people should get an exam at some point. But, four-eyes
should be able to purchase new glasses without a prescription within 12
months of purchase. They know if their prescription isn't as strong as
it needs to be. And, seriously, if the power of the lens is just a
little off, you can function quite normally -- it won't cause cancer,
convulsions while driving nor send your hormones into a tailspin, so
what gives? Again, that optometrist lobby must be real strong.

Thought of the Day #54

I've been trying to drink more water. Just plain old tap water. They say the average person should be drinking 8 glasses of water a day, and typically I'm woefully less than that. At my size, I probably should drink much more than I do. So, recently, I decided to drink a glass of water every time I went to the bathroom. Fine and dandy, only that now that I'm drinking more...I'm drinking more and more! Exponentially figured, by the time I'm done filling another glass, I'll be on the toilet again! Sploosh, sploosh. Garbage in...garbage out. When and where shall the maddness end? :-)

Feminine Daintiness (I wish this was an April Fool's Joke!)

First, my friend Andi, an awesome chicka who attended high school with me and has a fun, albeit quite private blog, sent me a note to let me know that my photo appears when searching Google for "listerine douche". Don't use the quotes when searching. You'll find me! Sure enough, there I am in one of my less flattering quasimodo photos. I'm supposedly asking a whole bunch of stupid questions of dubious veracity. Trust me, it's not me. Anyway, I came to wonder why Andi was searching on "listerine douche". Well, apparently someone sent her info on Lysol douches. Yup, LYSOL douches. So...then...well, of course I had to look up lysol douches. OMFG. Yup, apparently in the ultra-clean 50s, women's daintiness (read lack of coochy cleanliness) was the whole reason that marriages fail. It's there in black and white, so you know it must be true. Let me put it in modern terms because I don't think that "feminine daintiness" has the same...oh, I dunno...hippness that it once did.

*Ahem*

Hubby giving you a cold shoulder? It's cuz your vajayjay ain't fresh, girlfriend. If you have to wonder if your lovebox stinks, sister, you know it does. And your husband *knows*. Ooooh boy, does he. What's the solution? Well, let me tell you....it's a solution of LYSOL disinfectant. That's right. Put that up there and awwaaaay goes the unpleasant odors. After you do this, your husband will be visiting *your* bed once again.

Ok, the *your* bed may be a little too post-modern for today's woman. ;-) It's just soooo crazy to even think that 1. they thought it was a really good idea to use disinfectants in this way. I mean, I'm sure they really wiped things clean, but it had to do some damage along the way. 2. WTF. I know that advertising preys upon women's insecurities even today, but c'mon, did women believe this crap back then? I kind of think they probably did. I mean women today buy into the crap that they need to be slender to get and keep a man, a job, a friend, a life. It's all bullshit, but we buy it anyway. If there's a way we can achieve the dream of "perfection" as advertisers see it, we will plunk down our change to chase it. Agggh. Kids, it's pretty simple. There is NO SUCH THING AS BODY PERFECTION. Be the best person you can be and people will want to be with you...even if your coochy isn't *fresh* every minute, or if you have a fat bum. Or you have thin lips. Or you have flat hair. Or you have less-than white teeth, etc, etc, etc, etc.

For a little fun reading, I give you a selection of Lysol ads from the 50s:

Miscarriage Memories

I've received several emails about the miscarriage I mentioned in the last post. I thought I had mentioned it before, but apparently not. It was several years ago, so for historical purposes, here's the full story as I remember it...

First off, I didn't know I was pregnant, so it wasn't huge emotional issue for me. As I've grown older and haven't carried a pregnancy to full term, the emotion of it has grown with time.

I was at work when the pain struck me. I sat at my desk and thought, "Crap, this is a really bad cramp." I wasn't a stranger to unusual period behavior, so I thought nothing of it. I hurried to the bathroom to take care of "business". While I was in there, the pain increased and I started to bleed very heavily. Again, I was used to heavy periods, so no major worries aside from the fact that it was a really sudden ocurrence rather than minor bleeding followed by major gushes. So, there I sat in the stall. Passing chunks. (Excuse my ummmm...grossness... it's just the facts, Jack.) After a few minutes, I looked into the toilet to see a white ball about the size of a large egg yolk floating in the blood. I thought, "This looks important." You know, when you have a cancerous tumor that falls ino the toilet, you should probably pick it up and take it with you. So, I reached in an picked it out. Just then, someone else came into the bathroom. Dang. Poor timing. My hands are covered with blood and I need to get out of there with the "tumor." I rushed out of the stall and quickly grabbed some paper towels, wrapped up the "tumor" in the towels and put it in my cleavage. Yes, a perfect hiding spot! I washed my hands and rushed back to my desk. I called my boyfriend and said, "Come and get me NOW." I'm pretty sure my "NOW" was convincing. I did briefly say that I either just passed a tumor or had a miscarriage. I'm sure I said both of those quietly so that my cube-mates couldn't hear me, so chances are, the bf probably didn't hear me either.

Twenty minutes or so quickly went by and my boyfriend was out front and was pickin' me up. I'm sure I had a pretty panicked look so the bf was freakin' out in his own way. Upon the drive back home, I had THE worst pain I've ever experienced. It was akin to a knife being jabbed in my gut and being twisted back and forth. Another chunk of goodness was on its way out. It was a biggin'!

Upon arriving home, I went to the bathroom just off the kitchen. I took the toweled prize from between my breasts and carefully unwrapped it. Now that it was slightly dried off, the "tumor" was quite apparent to be an amniotic sac. Still intact and filled with fluid, I was able to press the bubble to expand the tissue and peer inside to see the tiny little embryo. When it wasn't stretched, you couldn't see through it...unlike the "National Geographic" type photos of embryos would have you believe. In fact, when the sac was in liquid much as it would be within the womb, the fuzzy tissue on the outside of the sac made it look like an off-white jellyfish or something like that. Your sac may be different, but this is what my body developed... I spent a good deal of time peering at the embryo which was maybe the size of a lima bean. It was a very white little creature. The eyes were still slightly on either side of the head. The arms and legs were tiny.

I took the sac and put it in a little Tupperware container and put it in the fridge. (Yeah, I know, kinda gross, but the scientist in me was pretty pleased.) I called the doctor and set up an appointment for the following morning. After calling I went back and forth to the fridge to take extra looks to investigate the curiousity.

Jump ahead 12 or so hours and I'm at the doctor...doing the whole stirrup thing and showing the doc my proud little Tupperware find. I was told that expelling a whole amniotic sac is pretty unusual and she was pretty pleased to see it herself...so much so, that she took it away and I never saw my little embryo again. I did get some good news 'cuz I thought that I spontaneously aborted due to my weight, and the doc informed me that wasn't the case. She's seen women much larger give birth. She said that the real trick with most infertile women is just *getting* pregnant. Oh, another good thing...apparently I had a "complete" miscarriage. When I was in the car, I was passing a big ol' placenta. Oftentimes women have incomplete spontaneous abortions and they need to have D&Cs to remove any remaining tissue. So, all in all, a good experience. In addition, I wasn't treated like a fat freak which is always a bonus.

Later that day, I received a call and found out that I would need a shot. Whee! Turns out I'm Rh negative. So, a shot in the bum and I was pretty much done with this whole situation. I was informed at the time that I would need to have RhoGAM shots anytime I got pregnant to avoid the conflict of blood types that happen with rh- mothers with their fetuses.

FLASH FORWARD. When I was diagnosed with being hypo-thyroid, so many bells went off in my head. While I was pregnant, I was extremely cold. It was a really hot, hot summer, so there was no reason for it aside from the fact that I was probably hypothyroid at the time and the pregnancy was exacerbating it. I suffered from a lot of the other hypothyroid symptoms during and after the miscarriage, but you know, when they're not bad enough to completely ruin your life, you don't pay much attention to 'em. At least I don't.

So, there you have it in a wee nutshell.

Just a few tidbits, in case you were wondering

~~ I went to the doctor on Wednesday to have my thyroid levels checked and my bp taken. My blood pressure is waaaay down. Woohooo! I found out this morning that the thyroid results indicate that I need the next higher dose of synthroid.

~~ I'm excited to be heading off to the Las Vegas BBW bash on Monday of this coming week! Preparations are underway this weekend. You know, gotta make sure the undies, sunscreen and miscellaneous sundries are all packed. It's been several years since I've been to a big BBW event, so I feel a bit ill prepared for the whole "scene". There are definitely things I'm looking forward to --- THE POOL being a big one, catching up with few of my long lost online friends, hangin' out with a few of my Minnesota buds, gambling. Oops. Did I say that last one? ;-) Things I'm not looking forward to -- loud obnoxious drunk fat chicks (if you've been to these things, you've gotta know what I mean); backstabbing between desperate chickas (Too often, there is a limited supply of men. While the men aren't typically aware of it, there's a lot of chick-on-chick fighting going on. I've seen some pretty nasty behavior in the past. For those of you prone to this, DON'T DO IT! You can be better than that!); and sunburn, always a given no matter how much sunscreen I use.

~~ Jam season has started again! So far I've made blueberry-apricot, pineapple-apricot and just plain old apricot. The pineapple-apricot is fabulous! The blueberry-apricot is a smooth mellow yum, too. A friend of my hubby's has ordered a bunch of jars for her wedding as wedding favors. She's going to top 'em with lace and ribbons and a ceremonial wedding tag. A cute idea!

Hormonal Flux

I'm currently in a bad mood. Yeah, it's "that time" of the month. Normally that time comes and goes without note. You know, it's a little annoying, a little messy, but all in all, smooth sailing. This month, however, I'm a wreck. Odors/scents of pretty much anything annoy me. In fact, they make me want to puke. Food doesn't taste normal. In fact, it makes me want to puke. People annoy me. Their faults, now magnified, make me want to puke. The other day, I got done with work and NEEDED to take a nap. 6 hours later, I still wanted more sleep. My eyes and mouth are drier than normal. Heavy flow. Yuck, no more mention of that. Yeah, so, icky, icky. Get in my face...I'll bite your nose off. Or at least tell you why you're so very, very wrong. You know you are...'cuz right now, for SURE it's not ME! Hehehe.