I Finally Get It

JFR · Post by **JFR** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 5:23 am

For Cordain the problem isn't bacon the problem is additives. He does always recommend "lean" meat, of whatever variety, but I choose to ignore that. I remain 100% paleo. I like eating this way and it seems to be helping, at least something sure is. So far no rattlesnake but I did buy some ground venison.

Jean

Sheila · Post by **Sheila** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 12:51 pm

There is also gator tail, usually deep fried. It is tough and not very tasty. They were probably around in paleo times and they probably got eaten as well. I love wild Florida boar cooked over a grill.

I bought some nitrate free bacon and GF and nitrate free sausage as well. I agree that there really is nothing wrong with either meat and I plan to enjoy both.

Brandy, I haven't been totally paleo but almost. I had some rice for dinner the other night and wrapped a piece of my homemade GF bread around a sausage for breakfast. No brownies and no sugar, no legumes or nightshades!! I am less bloated and am able to stay in bed a little longer before making my first trip to the bathroom.

I had a gastritis attack the other night, probably from the d^%$ celebrex. I know I was supposed to stop it and now I have for good. Very scary and painful attack. Also stopped my relaxing glass of wine at dinner, at least for the time being. Going to a family fish fry tonight and bringing a bowl of butternut squash soup with me just in case. I've lost a lb. in 3 days. I know I'm going to lose weight on this diet and will have to come up with some way to keep it on. I don't want to go back to skinny Minny with my pants falling down.

Keep going Brandy. I'm trying to be good but it's tough. I really don't care for meat all that much.
Sheila W

Leah · Post by **Leah** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 3:13 pm

Okay Sheila, the fitness trainer is going to come out in me. Do you do any kind of resistance training? Keeping muscle is the important thing, so if you don't.... start lifting some weights to keep your weight up ( and your strength). They don't have to be heavy ones, but everyone should be doing this at least two times a week.

Leah

carolm · Post by **carolm** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 3:45 pm

No doubt I would have made a poor cave-person.

c.

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 7:10 pm

Leah,

DH and I just began a fitness program at a local Y. We were surprised to get a free membership in our choice of four facilities as a benefit of our supplemental Medicare insurance. It's called SilverSneakers. DH is pumping it up, and he's overdoing it. I'm taking it more slowly. My goal is cardio workouts and resistance exercise for the osteoporosis. I'm disappointed that none of the machines seem to give resistance exercise to the neck area. My osteoporosis is most obvious there. I didn't realize that lifting weights would increase my weight - that would be a nice benefit.

Gloria

JFR · Post by **JFR** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 7:35 pm

I just started some strength training. I'm using the book "Strong Women Stay Young" by Nelson. I bought some ankle weights and hand weights. I'm also trying to increase my walking. It's amazing how much more I can do when I don't spend most of my time in a bathroom.

Jean

Sheila · Post by **Sheila** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 8:32 pm

I hae 2 sets of light weights in a cabinet somewhere. Bought with the best of intentions, of course. I go to the gym at least twice a week but only do the treadmill or stationary bike. I have a spinal fusion and the trainer at Gold's won't touch me with a ten foot pole. He has suggested light resistance training but the safest thing for me is the treadmill.

I know you are right about the light weights and I'm going to dig them out again. Perhaps if I leave them out on the counter, I'll even use them. I have a tendency to overdo it and then hurt myself. Thanks for the suggestion. :-))

Sheila W

carolm · Post by **carolm** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 9:41 pm

Ladies,
I think the resistance training that I'd done for years (mainly an interval training program developed by Cory Everson) is the reason why my Dexascan 3 years ago (at age 51) placed me at the 108th%ile for women my age, and at the 97th%ile compared to women aged 35. I believe it is the 'fountain of youth' for us. In the last couple of years I've used a program called The Power of Ten and I rarely had any soreness, even the first time I change my program. You can start with light weights but you'll be surprised how quickly you'll make progress and need to go up in weight. It is one of the most important things we can do for ourselves, in my experience.

Carol

Sheila · Post by **Sheila** » Sun Jun 10, 2012 10:39 am

Thanks Carol. Now that I've finally given up Celebrex for good I am going to have to do something to keep my body moving so I don't lose muscle mass. It is easy to go to the gym and walk 3 miles and work outside when nothing hurts. Without the celebrex, arthritis pain is a hindrance. I used to be in such good shape before I had a spinal fusion 5 years ago.

Because of nerve damage I have chronic pain plus arthritis in my back that is pretty severe. Celebrex was literally a wonder drug for me.

I don't have osteoporosis and should be able to do something to make myself stronger and more flexible. I can still do very easy yoga, but don't do it. Now that the initial shock of DH's death and finishing up estate issues and getting this house ready for sale are subsiding, I will have time and, I hope, the will to get back into decent shape. When a person is slender everyone thinks that is healthy. I know that my muscle mass has shrunken greatly, flexibility is getting worse etc.

I'm getting used to the paleo diet, even though I'm modifying it a bit and there is no reason why I can't add more structured exercise. I'm 71 years old and need to make sure I don't become a weakling who cannot help herself.

The Power of Ten is something I'll check out for sure. Thanks for telling me about it. Without the potty people helping each of us, how would we deal with this crappy disease? Our doctors sure don't know how to help.

Sheila W

JFR · Post by **JFR** » Sun Jun 10, 2012 10:59 am

Sheila,

The book I am using, "Strong Women Stay Young" by Miriam Nelson is specifically designed with us older folks in mind. I am 63. I also have a spinal fusion but I seem to have been luckier than you since my back is in pretty good shape, much better than before the fusion, which was about 10 years ago. You can check out the book on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Strong-Women-Youn ... 137&sr=1-1

I am finding it easy to use. I haven't been at it long enough to evaluate its results but I think it is the same program that the senior center here in town uses for strength training.

I am sorry about the loss of your husband.

Jean

lisa in lj · Post by **lisa in lj** » Sun Jun 10, 2012 11:41 am

carolm, 108th percentile? Is that possible? That would mean that 107% of the people your age have worse results, wouldn't it? I was told my results were very good and that I was in the 99th percentile for people my age (50). Considering I am at HIGH risk for osteoporosis - family history, small bones, prednisone for 1+ years, I was thrilled with that result.

Leah · Post by **Leah** » Sun Jun 10, 2012 1:29 pm

I love that you all are talking and doing exercise! Gloria, muscle is very dense and heavy compared to fat, so it does add the lind of weight you want. Like carol said, there is nothing better for your bones. As for your neck, do some isometric moves like : place your hand on the side of your head and press against it. Hold for 10 seconds and repeat. Then switch sides. Then press against hand that is placed on your forhead.

Leah

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Sun Jun 10, 2012 5:59 pm

Sheila wrote:When a person is slender everyone thinks that is healthy.

Isn't that the truth! I've had people tell me I look fabulous, just because I'm very petite again. But being petite means that I'm prone to having osteoporosis. I'm thinking that I need to add ankle weights when I go walking so that I'm more than 100 lbs. I read that people who are overweight don't get osteoporosis, presumably because the mere weight of their body is giving them resistance exercise.

Leah,
Yes, I'm thinking that I'll have to tie a rubber stretch band (I don't know the correct name for it) into a knot and close a door on the band. Then I can put it around my forehead and push away from the door. DH says that's the type of exercise men used to do when he was younger, only they had a machine to facilitate it. I did the exercises you mentioned a few years ago, too, but haven't done them for a while.

Gloria

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Sun Jun 10, 2012 6:47 pm

too funny Sheila and Gloria

due to the hormone/thyroid issues i now have the apple shape (i lost my waist) people say to me 'you look well..' as they are not sure what to say

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Sun Jun 10, 2012 7:07 pm

I don't think I can lift weights because I have a hernia. I think it's gotten worse in the past year or so, but I don't want to have surgery for it. My father was about my age when he had hernia surgery and he started getting blood clots later that year. Within months a clot caused him to lose the tips of his fingers. After a few more months, he had a clot in the vein leading to his intestine and had to have a large amount of his small intestine removed. A week or two later, he had a stroke and died. I decided then and there that I wouldn't have surgery unless it was absolutely necessary once I reached my 60's. My dad died at age 67 and I am 66. I don't know if I am being silly or not, but surgery is something I want to avoid.

I wear a hernia belt when it starts getting painful. I hope that keeps it at bay. I had hernia surgery on my other side about 20 years ago. That hernia used to get strangled. I'm pretty sure I got it during childbirth.

Gloria