tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70316816299812321282024-02-19T06:54:32.579-06:00Two at the FarmEco Friendly Tightwaddery and the Fine Art of Substitution (or making do with what you have). Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07463631187414492098noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7031681629981232128.post-29046150209622500082019-10-03T07:45:00.002-05:002019-10-03T07:45:43.703-05:00Surgery Day!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Captain's Log 10.03.2019<br />
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AND today is surgery day. Carpal tunnel fix on my left hand. Actually, I'm kind of looking forward to it so that whole saga will be over. But for this minute, no coffee, nothing to drink or eat.<br />
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Speaking of drinking, I finally figured out that it was my much loved coffee that was the trigger for my IBS-C. I knew it was for the "D". It took a couple of days of having tea for everything to work its way back to normal. I was getting pretty uncomfortable with not pooping for days on end. Whew, glad that's over. I did learn that if you have both C and D, they call it IBS-A, for alternating. Yep, that's me.<br />
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Nothing much has changed on the diet side. I'm trying to make more actual meals so I don't do the snacking bit. Bill's been a peach and will chop vegetables for me. My right hand still isn't healed enough for chopping. Every time I do it, my right hand hurts for a couple of days after.<br />
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Onward.<br />
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Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07463631187414492098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7031681629981232128.post-89545043469084163862019-09-25T13:38:00.000-05:002019-09-25T13:38:50.008-05:00It's All Good. Lesson Learned. Again.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Captain's Log 09.25.2019<br />
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Ye gods, I was a hurting unit all night long. Hands, wrists, elbows, one previously injured low back vertebra, knees and ankles were all affected. I finally got back in bed around 6 this morning and slept for 5 hours.<br />
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But it's all good. Lesson learned. Again.<br />
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I had deluded myself into thinking that a healthier version of a brownie (awesome black bean brownie recipe) would be okay for a treat for Bill. Or that's how I spun it. So, even though it only had 2 T of actual cane sugar (maple syrup is most of the sweetener in the recipe), it also had 2 T of cocoa powder. And a cup of chocolate chips. More than the recipe called for, I just wanted to empty the bag.<br />
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On my list of inflammatory foods to avoid: sugar and cocoa. Chocolate chips fall in that category, too.<br />
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Also, in my 'waste not, want not' lifestyle, I polished off the rest of the mashed potatoes from the previous night's dinner. Why did I make potatoes, you ask? The potatoes had already been cooked, then frozen, probably because I had too many at the time and this was a good way for me to be able to use them. This was before I discovered that I should stay away from spuds.<br />
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On my list of inflammatory foods to avoid: potatoes.<br />
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AND of course, there were plenty of bananas that were perfectly ripe. So, I had peanut butter and banana toast. And a small apple.<br />
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On my list of inflammatory foods to avoid: wheat, banana and apple.<br />
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Honestly, it was glorious. I relished every single bite of every single food I was supposed to avoid.<br />
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Until around two in the morning. <br />
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I don't know how long it will take for the residual pain to be gone, but right now it's a reminder that some things just aren't worth the aftermath.<br />
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Bill picks up bananas every time he goes to the store, thinking that he'll eat them. He'll have one or two. I look at the remaining four and try to figure out what to do with them. Usually I end up freezing banana slices for smoothies. Often I use several slices in green smoothies without noticing inflammation, but just because I can't feel it, doesn't mean it's not there, right? Ditto with the small apple. It's also not on the 'approved' menu.<br />
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But shit's getting real now. Time to stay with the program.<br />
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Marianne</div>
Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07463631187414492098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7031681629981232128.post-91112470417164179672019-09-23T14:25:00.001-05:002019-09-23T14:25:03.309-05:00Company and My Much Loved Carbs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Captain's Log 09.23.2019<br />
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Company and more company. And more carbs than I needed. But it was great.<br />
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I am no longer going to beat myself up because I didn't stick to the plan for a few days. It was special company. First our only grandson who lives in FL was here and then our youngest son who lives in CO. We had a good time, ate too much, sometimes laughed too hard...at someone else's expense!! In this family, you don't show weakness. hahaha<br />
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I stayed with the high dose Vit D protocol, but yesterday, both Bill and I hit a wall. Agh. Neither of us wanted to do anything and felt weird after taking a higher dose of the D3. So today, I dropped back down to 15,000 plus 200 of K2-MK7 and the magnesium. Just like before, I feel energized and perky!<br />
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I had zero hip pain for a few days. Zero. I was aware of my knees kind of aching, but not to the point where I took some over the counter pain medication. Even the night when it was going to storm, I was able to sleep. Almost always, I ache so much that there's no way I'm sleeping, even with a handful of Tylenol, Advair and Aleve. And Benadryl. Anything to induce sleep.<br />
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But then I started eating tomatoes. They were so good. For three days, I had some wonderful, home grown tomatoes. And last night I was a hurting unit. Again. And no weather change. So, the rest of the tomatoes will end up in the freezer, waiting to be added to a big pot of soup this winter. I think I can handle 'some' tomato, but not much and not too often.<br />
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This morning I ate a sliced cucumber with a bit of sour cream, 2 oz. of cream cheese and a very small apple. I need the higher fat when I'm going to take the D3 as it's a fat soluble vitamin (actually hormone). I haven't even thought about lunch as I'm satisfied. Supper will be pizza on cauliflower crust. The trick to those things is making sure they are baked to a crispy texture. CauliPower is really good, neither of us liked the Green Giant. YMMV<br />
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No one was home besides myself, so I cranked on the music and boogied while I was doing dishes, etc. Nice.<br />
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Love yourself.<br />
Marianne<br />
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Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07463631187414492098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7031681629981232128.post-46840826060072865442019-09-18T12:48:00.001-05:002019-09-18T12:48:42.156-05:00Captains Log - Staying the course<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Captain's Log 09.18.19<br />
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Yesterday was pretty good. I was stoked about losing another inch of belly fat and that keeps me going. I had a big salad for breakfast with pretty much the same ingredients as before, but this time I used homemade apple cider vinegar/Dijon mustard/maple syrup dressing. I was still hungry an hour or so later so I ate the rest of the chicken breast/onions/yellow bell pepper dish that I'd made for supper the previous night.<br />
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Lunch was boiled egg, 2 ounces of cream cheese (back on THAT again) and a small apple. Supper was taco salad with no cheese, but I did put some sour cream on it. Still hungry later, a small bowl of blueberries and sour cream. And eventually a leftover grilled hamburger. I was having some serious protein cravings. Thinking that I don't have to eat Keto or Paleo has made it easier. I'm aware of the high carb foods, so I don't eat them daily.<br />
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I exercised in my chair for only 10 minutes before life got in the way. I never did get back to it.<br />
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Our youngest son is still visiting, so this morning I made biscuits and gravy for the guys. I didn't even eat a crumb of my much loved biscuits. It was almost lunchtime and I still hadn't eaten breakfast. I finally decided on eating the rest of the salad that was hanging out in the frig, mostly because I could tell the lettuce had just a tinge of rust.<br />
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Egads!!<br />
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In the spirit of 'waste not, want not', I dumped it into a bowl. There wasn't a lot there. So I added a medium yellow tomato, a boiled egg, half a cucumber, then the standard sunflower kernels and dry TVP for a bit more texture and protein. That helped fill the bowl. Eventually my hands will be completely healed and I can make <a href="https://saladinajar.com/vacuum-seal-lettuce/" target="_blank">salad in a jar.</a> Those are awesome to keep in the frig. I use Romaine, cabbage and carrot.<br />
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So far, I haven't had any arthritis pain kick in from the addition of the tomatoes. A lot of folks with arthritis stay clear of tomatoes and anything in the nightshade family. Maybe I'll be one of the lucky ones. Carrot isn't considered low carb, but it's high in Vit A which is good for people with lung disease. Funny, they say to get plenty of A from food sources, but to avoid A supplements. Hmmmm. I wonder about these things.<br />
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I've actually had a LOT less pain in my hips and knees since I started the Vit D3 protocol. This morning I took 20K units of D3 along with 200 mcg of K2-MK7, calcium and magnesium taurate. Plus half of the other vitamins/supplements that I have. I use that specific type of magnesium as I had cardiac bypass in 2014.<br />
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As usual, don't follow my advice. Do your own research and decide what's best for YOUR body.<br />
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D3 is a fat soluble vitamin, so you don't pee the excess out. I'm not concerned. I'm not one of those people who think 'if one is good, two is better'. If I'm having good luck with a maintenance dose, I'm staying with the maintenance dose.<br />
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Marianne<br />
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<a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-many-calories-per-day" target="_blank">Here's a nifty little calculator to determine how many calories you should eat to lose weight.</a><br />
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Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07463631187414492098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7031681629981232128.post-48437417736615812862019-09-17T09:08:00.000-05:002019-09-17T10:41:43.951-05:00Course Corrections - "Move More, Eat Smarter"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Captain's Log 09.17.19<br />
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Did I say that I wasn't going to weigh for a week? I couldn't help it! I lost a pound and lost an inch around the fattest part of my stomach. Yahoooo!<br />
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Since I had no vegetables the day before, I loaded up on them yesterday. For breakfast I had a big smoothie with mixed lettuce, spinach, kale, sliced banana (equal to half of a small banana, or less), almond milk, Pyure, crushed ice and topped off with some dry TVP. <br />
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<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?rinli=1&pli=1&blogID=7031681629981232128" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>I still have some mixed greens from a salad mix that our son brought over. We weren't eating it fast enough, so I stuffed it all in a zipper bag and put it in the freezer. I automatically freeze spinach and kale when I get it home from the store. I'll leave some for salads, but the bulk is frozen. Bananas are frozen on a cookie sheet, then put into mason jars and back to the freezer. Usually I add a big spoon of cottage cheese, but there wasn't any in the frig.<br />
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For lunch I ate two sliced cucumbers with some sour cream and Pyure, a very small apple and two ounces of cream cheese. That didn't hold me over for a late supper, so I had two hard boiled eggs and a small sliced yellow tomato.<br />
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For supper I cooked a chicken breast with 1 yellow bell pepper, 1-1/2 sliced onion, salt, pepper and a pinch of fajita seasoning. I added a big serving of broccoli. There's enough left over for lunch today.<br />
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After supper I had cucumber and sour cream......and the last cookie bar. Hey, it was going to get stale. Dammit.<br />
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<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?rinli=1&pli=1&blogID=7031681629981232128" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Because I'm writing down everything that crosses my mouth, I'm very aware of the patterns I'm developing. Again. </div>
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1. Entirely too much dairy, which is one reason why I quit the low carb other times. The dairy makes it hard for COPDers to breathe. Hard cheese doesn't seem to bother me (and others). I like some cottage cheese for the protein (there's a throwback from being vegetarian!) and to add to salads for part of the creamy dressing. That creamy feeling is something that I'm still craving for some reason. But there are options. I can rotate between two ounces of Gouda or another hard cheese on the days that I have cottage cheese.</div>
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2. Expecting a lot of sweet tasting things.</div>
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I have coffee in the morning with Pyure (the equivalent of one tsp sugar) and powdered coffee creamer. I can't be trusted around cream. I mean it. And again, it's dairy. The last time I had a milkshake, I couldn't breathe for three days. Soooo, I need to mix up my old vegetarian standby dressing which sounds just wretched: apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard and maple syrup. Before you start gagging, I make my own apple cider vinegar which is not nearly as strong as Bragg's. Big difference. I can use that on salads and the bowls of cucumber that I'm devouring lately. </div>
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I also did some chair exercising - two sessions of 10 minutes, pretty close together. I got distracted in the middle of it. Plus our youngest son, who's a respiratory therapist, was on the couch and apparently listening to me huff and puff behind him. I had headphones on so I wasn't aware of how much I was snorting. Ha! He laughed when he saw what I was doing. I think he was more surprised than anything.<br />
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I'm currently embracing the "Move more, eat smarter" way of life. Lots of little things, like doing small, backward leg lifts while I'm waiting for the microwave, occasional butt clenching while I'm sitting here at my desk (holding for a few seconds), holding my abdomen in when I walk, and purposely taking one or two items from the laundry room to our bedroom, then walking back to get a couple more things, arm lifts when I'm walking and no one is watching, etc.<br />
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I'm also embracing my vitamins and supplements. I ordered a book about mega dosing Vit D3 yesterday. I had started that protocol a few days ago and yesterday I was stunned when I walked up our three porch steps that my hips and knees did not hurt AT ALL. Maybe it was a fluke, or the power of positive thinking. It doesn't matter. I didn't hurt.<br />
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Marianne<br />
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Waist</div>
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Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07463631187414492098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7031681629981232128.post-46473683633649025312019-09-16T09:27:00.002-05:002019-09-17T11:01:30.995-05:00Captain's Log - Low Carbing It.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Captain's Log - 09.16.19<br />
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Low Carbing It. Lower carbs than usual, anyway.<br />
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I didn't weigh today, but I measured an inch less around the fattest part of my belly. That, in itself, helps me stay motivated.<br />
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I ate some cookie bar yesterday, dammit. We had a surprise visit from our grandson who lives in Florida. It was a brief trip for him, just three days, two of which were travel days. He surprised his mom by showing up at her workplace on his birthday. He left yesterday and hours later, our youngest son came in from Colorado. Yay! The two members of the family that we don't get to see too often putting in an appearance. His visit is also brief as he's picking up a vehicle that he bought locally and driving it back home. Since it was a 'special occasion', I made the cookie bar. Thought I could resist, didn't happen. Dammit.<br />
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Breakfast yesterday wasn't my standard oatmeal. I had a big salad with iceberg, Romaine, small amount of carrot, red cabbage, hard boiled egg, a bit of sunflower seeds, a big pinch of dried kale and dry TVP (textured vegetable protein). The TVP gives the salads another texture, similar to nuts. I like the bit of added plant based protein plus the soy keeps my night sweats away. YMMV Creamy dressing w/ homemade yogurt and I was good to go. Later I had two sliced cucumbers with some yogurt and Pyure sweetener (stevia/erythritol blend). It tasted similar to the old 'cukes and cream' recipe, the one with equal parts sour cream and sugar for a dressing over sliced cucumbers.<br />
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The rest of the day I ate a polish sausage, 2 hard boiled eggs, 4 oz of cream cheese and stared at the can of green beans and the salad in the frig. Today I'll actually open that can. The only veg I had was in the salad. Not good.<br />
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While my hand was healing, I read some about the difference between counting calories and counting carbs:<br />
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<i>Pros of counting calories</i>: You can easily read a nutritional label and get a number to count toward your daily intake. A low calorie diet can benefit health conditions associated with obesity like high blood pressure and heart disease.<br />
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<i>Cons of counting calories</i>: Calorie counting doesn't take into account your nutritional needs, only your intake of calories. Cutting calories to an unhealthy level (usually less than 1200 to 1500 calories per day) can be a harmful way to lose weight.<br />
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<i>Pros of counting carbs</i>: This approach can be beneficial for those who must watch their carbohydrate intake, like people with diabetes. You can easily read a nutritional label and get a number to count toward daily intake. (Wow, it's like they had to stretch to find some shit to write.)<br />
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<i>Cons of counting carbs</i>: Not all foods contain carbohydrates. For example, a porterhouse steak doesn't have carbohydrates, but is very high in fat and calories. Watching carbohydrates alone doesn't guarantee a healthy diet.<br />
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<a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/calorie-vs-carb-counting#medical-conditions" target="_blank">Here's that source.</a> We can all find some things to argue about all that, pros and cons. The bottom line is that we all have to find that one way that helps our body.<br />
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Marianne<br />
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Belly Fat</div>
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Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07463631187414492098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7031681629981232128.post-85671194309157787202019-09-15T12:36:00.000-05:002019-09-17T09:40:51.935-05:00Taking Care of Myself<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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And here it is. The reason why I haven't journaled for a few weeks. Carpal Tunnel and Trigger Finger release. AND of course, arthritis hit in the "long" finger knuckles two weeks before surgery. I couldn't even manage a proper bird for some time. My hand was wrapped up for two weeks. I got the stitches out four days ago. Swelling and ice bags, but it's getting better and I'm now able to use the mouse and have some computer time without doing the one handed business.<br />
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I had pain from the surgery, more than I expected. I was thankful they prescribed the pain pills. Having two nurses tell me that it was 'going to hurt like hell' the next day and encouraging me to stay on top of pain medication... well, I knew what to do. But I was also depressed, ate and sat, ate more and watched more TV. I still can't exercise much because of swelling in that hand. Sounds weird, huh. But it's putting pressure on some tendons. I have a couple of fingers that flat out hurt when I stretch my arm out, like reaching for something. I also can really feel it even with my arm hanging down by my side. I guess trying to do even some leg exercised got the blood moving around enough to where my hand was asking me what the hell was I doing.<br />
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I finally weighed, sadly 208. I also decided to measure the fattest part of my belly, sadly 48". More depression.<br />
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BUT yesterday, I had to admit that everything I was trying to do just wasn't working for my individual body. Doing the vegetarian/vegan thing wasn't the right thing for me even though I'm a believer in that lifestyle. I wasn't eating cookies and junk food, I was eating 'good for you' fruit. And a peanut butter sandwich, or one slice of good bread. Didn't matter. I have been doing the same thing over and over, hoping for different results. For four years. I must be a slow learner.<br />
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So, a couple days ago I decided to do a lower carb thing, while still trying to maintain some ethical considerations in eating meat and dairy, plus trying to avoid the inflammation and trigger foods listed on earlier pages. I ate low carb all day yesterday. This morning, 207 pounds, waist 47". Down a pound, one inch less fat.<br />
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I'm not going to weigh or measure for another week. Last time I went low carb, I felt like crap. This time, maybe a few more carbs will help, yet still less than I usually eat in a specified period.<br />
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I'm also upping my vitamin D3 to 10,000 to 15,000 units a day and adding 200 vitamin K2-MK7. I had heard of <a href="https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/1491243821/ref=ox_sc_act_image_3?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1" target="_blank">this book</a> years ago and finally ordered it today, based on reading a lot of the reviews. I encourage you to do your own research and make your own decision.<br />
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Belly Fat</div>
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Small steps. But I'm more determined than ever before.<br />
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Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07463631187414492098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7031681629981232128.post-51555484288938532952019-08-27T12:16:00.000-05:002019-09-17T09:41:53.862-05:00We'll Keep You Plump as a Partridge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I had an appointment with the cardiologist yesterday. Everything's good, just a pre-surgery check up and EKG. On Thursday, I'm going to have carpal tunnel surgery plus trigger finger release. Oy vey!!<br />
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That trigger finger business is the worst right now. It hurts to flip the bird. I keep painter's tape over the knuckle so the finger can't bend enough to lock. And arthritis kicked into that same knuckle. Ouch. Yes, I take the tape off during most of the day so I can flex that knuckle. Anyway, I'll be glad when this is a memory. Meanwhile, doing any knife or scissor work in the kitchen is painful.<br />
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What wasn't good about the appointment is that I weighed three pounds more according to their scale. But this morning, I weighed the same as I did a couple days ago. Again, my goal is to lose 55 pounds over the next year. The realization is that after I hit that mark, I'm still going to be overweight. And as I keep on shrinking, I'll have even MORE weight to lose. Daaaaaamn. I wish I would have started measuring myself right from the get-go. That's also a little bit of encouragement when nothing is changing with the scales.<br />
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I didn't exercise yesterday since we went to 'the city' (about 30 miles from here) for my doctor appointment and did a couple errands after that. We ate big salads at one of the Dillon's store (Kroger) that has an awesome salad bar and little dining area. Of course, there's nothing that would be my first choice for salad dressing, so I used a spoon of cottage cheese with a little blue cheese dressing on it, then stirred everything up in the bowl. It worked.<br />
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Today, I exercised for 30 minutes. I had to sit more than stand, march or walk as both hips and both knees were complaining. I always have something that I can do in a chair. I have learned a few tips along the way. My first chair exercise experience was from Silver Sneakers, <a href="https://www.silversneakers.com/blog/10-minute-chair-core-workout/" target="_blank">10-Minute Chair Workout for a Stronger Core.</a> Easy peasy, so these are my fall back exercises to do when I can't do all of the chair workout with<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRDJc1pNGAI&t=281s" target="_blank"> Curtis on A New Way 2 Move</a>.<br />
<br />
<i>"I'm amazed by people who lose weight with exercise. When I exercise, nothing happens because my DNA still thinks I'm a European peasant. So it's like "Oh! Are we running from the English again, lass? Dinnae ye worry, we'll keep ye plump as a partridge to outlast the murderous bastards!"</i><br />
(Jamie Kenney on twitter)<br />
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And while the quote still makes me laugh, this time I'm determined to shed these pounds so I'll feel better.<br />
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Belly Fat</div>
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<img src="https://tickers.tickerfactory.com/ezt/t/wVSt0qb/weight.png?_t=1566926084" /></div>
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Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07463631187414492098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7031681629981232128.post-20188998501208113232019-08-25T11:14:00.001-05:002019-09-17T09:42:18.186-05:00Two Meals a Day? And Common Pain Triggers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Captain's Log 08.25.2019<br />
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Two meals a day just won't cut it yet. Yesterday, we ate a late lunch or early dinner, around 4 p.m. By 9:00, both of us were starving. I had already snacked on a small bowl of frozen grapes and the 100 calorie fruit and grain bars. Later another bowl of frozen grapes. I finally ate two pieces of toast with the thinnest smear of peanut butter and split a rounded teaspoon of low sugar blueberry jam that I had made. It wasn't much jam (preserves, actually), but there was some on each slice of toast. I would have been better off eating a couple sliced cucumbers or a big green salad. Lesson learned.<br />
<br />
I was pleasantly surprised when I weighed in this morning and the scale showed that I'd lost 2 lbs. I need that to help me stay motivated. I got a nifty little weight loss ticker that I can put at the bottom of some pages. But damn...55 pounds to go to hit my goal of 150. I gave myself a year to get there, so that's roughly 5 pounds a month.<br />
<br />
I'm now making a conscious effort to go at least 12 hours between eating at night and eating in the morning. It's much easier for me to NOT eat in the morning. When I was young, I would not eat at all until around 3 p.m., then I'd eat until I went to bed. If I ate breakfast, I'd eat all day. It's still like that today, but I'm trying to change my ways. Erg.<br />
<br />
I just finished my 20 minutes of exercise with <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hS2MwlpZek" target="_blank">Curtis</a> and have a cup of oatmeal in the microwave. I use 1/2 c. thick cut, old fashioned oats with some 30 calorie, unsweetened Almond milk. I like Aldi's brand the best. Plans are for a big chopped salad with red and green cabbage, romaine, sliced cucumber and a homemade oil freed dressing - homemade ACV, some Dijon mustard and maple syrup to taste. Sounds wretched, doesn't it!! But it's actually pretty good. I think I got that recipe from the <a href="https://www.drmcdougall.com/health/education/recipes/mcdougall-recipes/" target="_blank">McDougall page</a> years ago. She used a lot of mustard, but I'm pretty iffy on mustards of any type, so I don't use nearly as much. No plans for supper yet.<br />
<br />
I have this saved on my computer, but I didn't save the source, nor the exact quote:<br />
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Pain-safe foods virtually never contribute to arthritis, headaches or other painful conditions: these include rice, cooked green, orange and yellow vegetables, cooked or dried non-citrus fruits.<br />
<br />
Common triggers that cause pain in susceptible people include alcoholic beverages (especially red wine), caffeinated drinks, monosodium glutamate, aspartame (Nutra Sweet) and nitrates. Here are other common food triggers, also known as the 'dirty dozen': dairy, chocolate, eggs, citrus fruits, meat, wheat, nuts and peanuts, tomatoes, onions, corn, apples and bananas.<br />
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Stuff I like.<br />
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Marianne</div>
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Belly Fat</div>
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<img src="https://tickers.tickerfactory.com/ezt/t/wVSt0qb/weight.png?_t=1566747112" /></div>
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Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07463631187414492098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7031681629981232128.post-70200509064832225032019-08-24T14:03:00.003-05:002019-08-25T11:14:20.782-05:00Choosing the Healthier Path<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Captain's Log 08.24.19<br />
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Yesterday I did pretty well compared to how I have been eating. I had a cup of oatmeal cooked with almond milk and added a few raisins (we have a ton of them that are getting a little...past their prime). Ate an apple after that just because I thought about it. I wasn't really hungry after the oatmeal, so that's another obstacle I need to get past.<br />
<br />
We were away from the house for several hours, so I didn't have any lunch. We live in the country and I tend to stay away from stores, especially places like Wal-Mart or wherever there are crowds of people. It's the germ thing. Every time I get sick, I lose some lung function that will never come back, so I'm a hermit. I'm okay with it. But we ended up in town to pick up a few groceries, then ate at Burger King.<br />
<br />
I know, Burger King? Not healthy a'tall! But definitely a treat for me. I had an Impossible Whopper, a few fries and a few onion rings. I ate until I was full and recognized that I was full. And left everything else for the trash. Victory! Okay, hardly a victory, but I didn't feel compelled to eat every crumb.<br />
<br />
Late night snacking, dammit. Small bunch of red grapes, and a couple of whole grain raspberry bars, 100 calories for the two. Far less than my usual grazing at night.<br />
<br />
This morning,<a href="https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=curtis+adams+senior+workouts" target="_blank"> 25 minutes of chair aerobics with my dude Curtis</a>, on YouTube. My usual cup of oatmeal with almond milk and a few raisins plus an apple. Coffee, Elderberry/ACV with medications and vitamins.<br />
<br />
A neighbor came over, so no lunch. We had an early dinner of <a href="https://healthiersteps.com/recipe/teriyaki-soy-curls-with-pineapples-and-bell-pepper/" target="_blank">Teriyaki Soy Curls with Pineapple and Bell Pepper</a> and rice. I used just half the package of Soy Curls, added some onion, used Pyure instead of sugar (and less than the recipe stated) and baked (instead of frying) the Soy Curls. Pretty good. Next time I'll make twice the sauce. BTW, Soy Curls are much better in recipes if you rehydrate them in beef, chicken or veggie broth instead of plain o' water.<br />
<br />
If you're interested in Soy Curls, they are cheaper if you buy them from the manufacturer, <a href="https://www.butlerfoods.com/" target="_blank">Butler Foods</a>, BBQ Soy Curls are the bomb! Just like eating BBQ Chicken. Bring it on.<br />
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I did screw up and got a second helping because I had been so hungry. I was halfway through it before I remembered, so I put the big o' spoon down.<br />
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More baby steps, headed in the right direction.<br />
<br />
Marianne</div>
Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07463631187414492098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7031681629981232128.post-68769744154651971772019-08-24T13:31:00.001-05:002019-08-25T11:14:39.442-05:00Getting Started<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Captain's Log 08.12.19 <br />
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Engage</div>
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Starting weight - 207.5</div>
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I had a big bowl of oatmeal for breakfast, then went back for one slice of grainy bread with peanut butter, later a banana. Coffee (<a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Pyure-Organic-All-Purpose-Stevia-Sweetener/dp/B078WFLVQ2/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2E1JJS3KUOG8L&keywords=pyure%2Borganic%2Bstevia%2Bblend&qid=1566671848&s=gateway&sprefix=pyu%2Caps%2C269&sr=8-3&th=1" target="_blank">Pyure</a> sweetener and powdered coffee creamer) and an elderberry drink that I make (recipe at the end of this post).</div>
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I follow Curtis Adams on YouTube. He has a series of exercises for seniors and you can do them in a chair. He's my dude. Stuck it out for 20 minutes, so I'm making progress. A week ago, I struggled to do 10 minutes. I didn't exercise for a couple days because I was aching so badly. I don't know if it was because I ate some tomatoes, or because of the weather change. Maybe both.</div>
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I have everything laid out to go into a black bean soup for lunch and then leftover soup for supper.</div>
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I found these little acronyms to live by: WOE and No S</div>
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WOE= Way of Eating</div>
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<a href="http://www.nosdiet.com/" target="_blank">No S= No Snacks, No Sweets, No Seconds </a>(except on the days that start with S or Special occasions.)</div>
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Yeah, I can do this.<br />
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My biggest obstacle is that I stay up really late, some nights I don't even go to bed. Sucks. And I'm snacking, snacking, snacking half the night. I tell myself that it's all good for you stuff, like frozen grapes, maybe a piece of toast with peanut butter and honey....more fruit.... what needs to be eaten from the frig AKA leftovers, brazil nuts....chocolate chips with raisins in a little cup...you get the idea.<br />
<br />
I also don't eat complete meals. I snack off and on all day long, so I'm not really hungry at meal times. Then I keep grazing from the kitchen the rest of the time.<br />
<br />
One step at a time.<br />
<br />
My Elderberry/Apple Cider Vinegar drink (I make my own elderberry syrup and ACV. Both taste a lot better than stuff that you buy):<br />
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Into a quart container: 2 Tablespoons Elderberry syrup, 2 Tablespoons ACV and sweetener to taste. I use the equivalent of 3 tsps of sugar. Add water to fill container, refrigerate and drink throughout the day.<br />
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I am sold on drinking this. I had chronic bronchitis bouts all the time last year. If I was lucky, there would be three weeks in between being sick, but most of the time I was sick for two weeks, then better for two weeks, then sick again, and on and on. I started drinking this in January and honestly, I have not been sick ONE DAY this year. Maybe it's just a coincidence, but I'll keep drinking it. I don't drink the entire quart every day. Some days I only have a glass of it.<br />
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Marianne</div>
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Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07463631187414492098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7031681629981232128.post-63858462999654065342019-08-24T13:18:00.001-05:002019-08-25T11:15:06.413-05:00If Your Lifestyle Doesn't Control Your Body, Your Body will Eventually Control Your Lifestyle<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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"If your lifestyle doesn't control your body, your body will eventually control your lifestyle." Ern Baxter</h2>
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Captain's Log - Ship still in dock: The Beginning of the Journey</div>
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The first steps towards being healthier is to eat healthy. The standard COPD diet tips that everyone agrees on are:<br />
1. No sugar<br />
2. No dairy<br />
3. No nitrates<br />
Pretty straightforward. From then on, opinions vary, depending on individual results. And especially from those who refuse to give up bacon.<br />
<br />
Standard Arthritis Diet:<br />
1. No potatoes<br />
2. No tomatoes<br />
3. No sugar<br />
4. <a href="https://www.drweil.com/diet-nutrition/anti-inflammatory-diet-pyramid/dr-weils-anti-inflammatory-food-pyramid/" target="_blank">Anti inflammatory Diet</a><br />
Okay, got it.</div>
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<br />
Standard IBS diet:<br />
1. Eat some fiber first thing in the morning<br />
2. Avoid fiber<br />
Uh, ok.<br />
<br />
THEN I had bloodwork done to see what foods created an inflammatory response in my body. Worth.Every.Dime. I bought <a href="https://www.everlywell.com/" target="_blank">this one</a> for about $150. A LOT of foods that are supposed to be good for you are not so good for me. Depressed, I made a list of food that I should avoid:<br />
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Sugar, red meat, clams, fish and shellfish, all cured meats.<br />
Tomatoes and tomato products, potatoes, red and orange bell peppers, paprika, mustard, garlic, ginger, celery, squash, asparagus, corn, apples, citrus, bananas, fresh pineapple, kiwi and raspberries.<br />
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Barley, sunflower, wheat, cocoa (Noooooo!), coconut and coffee (Noooooooooooo!)</div>
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Egg yolk, dairy and Whey Isolate</div>
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<b>Taking action:</b></div>
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I decided it would be better to list the foods that I can eat with no problem:</div>
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Chicken, egg white, fresh pork, turkey</div>
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Carrots, kale, spinach, romaine, beets, green beans, green peas, sweet potatoes, broccoli, red and green cabbage, cauliflower, onion, cucumbers.</div>
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Nuts and nut butters, oats, beans and legumes, lentils, split peas, rice, soy products.</div>
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Watermelon, apricots, peaches, blueberries, pears, cherries, grapes.</div>
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Elderberry, apple cider vinegar, water kefir, tea, almond milk, plant milks</div>
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Looks like I won't die.</div>
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A lot of the foods that I listed from the blood test didn't have much of an inflammatory response, but I try to limit them. It's a good thing that I'm okay with eating mostly vegetarian. </div>
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Let's do this.<br />
<br />
Marianne</div>
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Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07463631187414492098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7031681629981232128.post-62211992178552663852019-08-24T12:06:00.000-05:002019-08-24T12:41:40.450-05:00Changes and Attitudes Towards Them.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
2019 now. So it's been years since I wrote here. A lot has happened and I'm learning to roll with it. So, today, my journal here is taking a different direction.<br />
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My health has taken a slow nose dive since May of 2012. First a diagnosis of COPD. Emphysema. Hey, I quit smoking two days before I finally went to the doctor because I couldn't breathe. Later came ILD - Interstitial Lung Disease. If you never heard of it, don't be surprised. I hadn't either. But here's a link explaining what it is if you're interested - <a href="https://www.lung.org/lung-health-and-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/interstitial-lung-disease/" target="_blank">here</a> . I don't have the scarring type at this point.<br />
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In 2014, I had a triple bypass. Four months later I had a stent put in my heart. Funny, my total cholesterol was 176. I went vegetarian for 6 months. Cholesterol went up to 197. WTH? I went vegan for the next 6 months. Cholesterol went up to 207. WTH???? No, I wasn't eating processed foods, no vegan junk food. Apparently there is a group of us that does this. Oh well. I put butter back in my life and my cholesterol dropped 26 points, with no other change. Actually I did that a long time ago, too, with the same results - cholesterol 176. My husband, Bill, finally did the same. His cholesterol dropped 50 points! Wowser.<br />
<br />
Moving on. Oh yeah, IBS-C and IBS-D decided to live with me in 2014. I didn't know there was IBS-C for Constipation. I was eating beans, oatmeal and fruit like crazy and wouldn't poop for days. When I was in the hospital after I had my bypass, I lied to the nurses that I'd had a bowel movement so I could finally go home. Eight days in the hospital...no shit. Literally. Passed a few marbles a couple days after I got home. What's up with that???<br />
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Last year, Chronic Bronchitis was added to the list. Add to that, over the past few years, I've gained 50 lbs. It's hard to exercise when you can't breathe. Try exercising when you have a clothespin over your nose while breathing through a straw in your mouth. Some days are like that. Most days I sit a lot. In February, my left hip decided that it was done with this shit. Three weeks later, my right hip agreed. A couple months after that, both knees joined them. Arthritis can really hurt.<br />
<br />
Weather change? I'll let you know a day in advance. Ha!<br />
<br />
So, in an effort to change my life and my health with positive motivation, I'm creating my own little Captain's Log for my journal. I'll list what I'm eating, how I'm exercising, what I'm battling. Since public humiliation seems to be the trick with a lot of people trying to lose weight, it's going here as well. Probably no recipes, but for my own sanity, I'll talk about my ups and downs and try to keep it positive.<br />
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Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07463631187414492098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7031681629981232128.post-50601377261643813652012-08-09T07:38:00.000-05:002012-08-09T07:38:02.732-05:00Getting Rid of Fleas, the Cheap and Green Way.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Fleas. I hate 'em. <br />
<br />
It's been a tremendously bad year for bugs here. We have two boxers that are in and out the back door, so now they have fleas. I should say WE have fleas. What I really hate is that my dogs have fleas...uh.. on their rear ends. In some research, a vet referred to them as "asshole" fleas. That pretty much says it all.<br />
<br />
Alrighty, then. First thing I did was fill up an empty shaker bottle (it used to have cinnamon in it) with some DE (diatomaceous earth). It was an easy way to powder my dog's butts and undercarriage. Yes. And under the tail-ish. I'd sprinkle it in my hand and just pat away. The dogs ended up loving this extra attention. I ended up wishing I had a brain scrubber. We had the male dog neutered when we adopted him, but you know...... Try to keep the dust down and be careful if you're going close to their face.<br />
<br />
I powdered dog butts two or three times a day for about a week before our dogs totally quit trying to scratch (they couldn't reach the area!). Remember that it takes a bit of time for the flea to die, plus most likely, there are fleas in various cycles. <br />
<br />
That's step one. Next is to attack the yard! It doesn't do any good to treat Fido if you aren't going to deal with the area where he's getting the fleas to begin with. Get a couple boxes of Borax from the laundry aisle of your local store. Sprinkle that all over the yard where Fido runs. Do it again the next day. Water it in a bit if you want to. It will stay effective for all kinds of bugs for two to three years. DE won't work after it's wet, but Borax will.<br />
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Back to the house. Dogs powdered, yard treated. Now wash their bedding and vacuum, vacuum. You can sprinkle some Borax or DE in the vacuum bag to take care of any fleas that end up in there. If you have a bagless unit, don't just empty the cannister in the kitchen trash or you'll have recycled fleas. You have to be vigilant with vacuuming. Every day. Every crack (not dog crack, though). Plan on doing this for a few days.<br />
<br />
It took about a week or so for our dogs to quit scratching. Initially they stopped scratching after a few days, then started again for a couple days. I'm guessing it was the last batch of flea eggs that hatched and we're done with them.<br />
<br />
One of the best pages I have read about fleas is Paul's: <a href="http://www.richsoil.com/flea-control.jsp">http://www.richsoil.com/flea-control.jsp</a><br />
He doesn't like Borax, but since I'm not using tons of it that often, I'm not afraid of it. People have added it to their laundry wash for generations. You decide what you're going to use. :o)<br />
<br />
</div>Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07463631187414492098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7031681629981232128.post-51495216287421845512011-09-21T10:05:00.001-05:002011-09-21T10:12:46.663-05:00Frugal living or not - two sides of the coin<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I came across a website the other day that challenged everyone to eat on $1.50 per day for five days - <a href="http://livebelowtheline.com/">http://livebelowtheline.com/</a> . <br />
<br />
So I gave it a shot. You can see how I did on a thread at the Simple Living Forum - <a href="http://www.simplelivingforum.net/showthread.php?2731-My-personal-Live-Below-The-Line-Challenge">http://www.simplelivingforum.net/showthread.php?2731-My-personal-Live-Below-The-Line-Challenge</a><br />
<br />
Kara (Treehugger on the Simple Living forum) commented on that thread that she budgets $100 a month for both her and her husband. Wow. That's $1.66 each per day. Every day! She doesn't have chickens, and it sounded like she didn't get much from the garden this year. She explains how she does it on the thread. And I thought I was doing pretty good by staying under $250 a month for the two of us, with a goal of $200 a month. I think she's my new hero.<br />
<br />
You might think that $1.66 per person, per day is easily attainable. What surprised me in the $1.50 challenge was how much all the extras added to the total - things like butter, sugar, seasonings, even tea, coffee or a glass of milk. It wouldn't be much different in the $100 a month budget, either.<br />
<br />
Now then, the flip side. Some people we know dropped by the other day. She's definitely not into the frugal living/make-it-from-scratch lifestyle. Look in her refrigerator and you'll see a wave of take out containers AKA doggy bags, most of them with food that's not exactly edible. Once in a while she throws it all away and starts over. I always thought it was kind of comical and I'd tease her about it.<br />
<br />
So the conversation was about the guy applying for a better paying job. I said that my goal was to live well on less than $1000 a month. (A moment of silence - then lots of laughing and 'good luck with <em>that</em>' with some 'you poor dear' insinuated.) They said that they need $7500 a month to live! I didn't know my jaw could drop that far. They don't live in a McMansion and have talked about financial problems in the past, so I know they have a boatload of debt. What's scary is that they're 65-ish, so time isn't on their side any more.<br />
<br />
So she's sitting there eating some of my homemade yogurt, almost yelling in her best 'holier than thou' tone:<br />
I WANT to take my credit card to the store to buy what I want, <br />
I WANT to use my credit card when ever I want, etc.<br />
<br />
Me: *blink blink* (thanks, OFG). I didn't say much but I was thinking that I kinda didn't like her any more.<br />
<br />
It's all about choices. Personally, I'd rather not have the pressure and I don't want Bill to have to work forever. So my choice is to stay on the frugal side of life, challenge myself to lower the grocery bill each month without having to buy Beano (can I get it to $50 per person??) and pay off debt. And of course - to enjoy the journey along the way!<br />
<br />
</div>Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07463631187414492098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7031681629981232128.post-60180227239302636952011-08-25T09:12:00.004-05:002011-08-28T07:15:38.495-05:00Low Tech Termite Traps<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div closure_uid_opika9="199"><div closure_uid_44tmmq="193">Here in Kansas, termites are the norm. When we lived in town, if one house in the neighborhood had their place treated for termites, the following year the neighbors had to, then down the street it went. When the cycle started in the neighborhood of our friends, they had the outside of their place treated right away and signed a contract for monthly checks of bait traps. I don't know how much they pay each month, but this has been going on for several years now. I bet he's spent $1000 for those monthly checks by now. Ouch.</div><div closure_uid_44tmmq="193">Edited to add: I talked to my friend yesterday. She said they spent $800 to $1000 just to have the Tox-eol bait traps put around their house. The cost is determined by the number of traps they say you need based on how large your structure is. Now they pay $250 a year to have the traps checked monthly. Double ouch.</div></div><div closure_uid_opika9="199"><div closure_uid_44tmmq="191"><br />
</div></div><div closure_uid_opika9="199">The termites serve a purpose in nature, being part of the decomposition cycle. That doesn't mean that I like them. And even though I try to do the green thing, I'm not willing to risk my home and hard work by spraying with soapy water and keeping my fingers crossed. Termites were in a couple areas on our property when we bought it, so we considered it a 'known termite area' and acted accordingly.</div><div closure_uid_opika9="199"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_opika9="199">After we got our foundation done, I bought several boxes of borax (20 Mule Team, Borateem) and threw it all over the crawl space area plus inside and outside of the foundation (before and after backfilling). One neat thing about borax is that it keeps working for 2-3 years after it gets wet vs. DE that is ineffective after it gets wet. A couple years later we were in the crawl space and saw one spider, that's it. I was impressed. </div><div closure_uid_opika9="199"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_opika9="199">Fast forward two years and we're adding on to the side of the house and attaching to the old garage. Bill thought he saw active termite activity on the back of the garage. *Sigh* So we called the local pest control guy and paid him $700 to treat the outside of the house and garage. Come to find out, it wasn't termites that Bill saw. I wished I would have done the borax thing around all the outbuildings and then just kept an eye on them, you know? But at the time, we thought we'd be tearing it down in the future.</div><div closure_uid_opika9="199"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_opika9="199">I learned from the termite guy that ants hate termites. In the areas where we know there was active termite activity, there was also major ant activity. He also told me that the purchased termite baits were 'iffy'. Sometimes they worked, other times they didn't. Well, he also makes a living spraying and doesn't live in the cheap seats in town, either. But if they are 'iffy', I might as well make my own and check them myself.</div><div closure_uid_opika9="199"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_opika9="199">So, instead of doing commercial bait traps, here's how to make your own. Simple stuff. First, dig a hole at least a foot deep, about 6' away from your building. Throw in a chunk of wood, like a hunk of scrap 2x4. Put a short piece of 1" PVC or any kind of metal pipe in the hole. You want it to be long enough to reach the wood yet short enough so it's not really sticking out of the ground too far. Pour sugar water on the wood, let it soak for a bit, then fill the hole back up with the dirt. The only reason for the pipe is so you have some way to add some more sugar water every once in a while. PVC will degrade over time in the sun, but use what you have around there. If your bait trap is in an area where you mow, obviously you want it short enough to mow over it, or have it stick way out and mow around it.</div><div closure_uid_opika9="199"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_opika9="199"><div closure_uid_flgi5c="181">If there are termites around there, they will be attracted to the wet wood. The sugar will attract the ants initially and they'll take care of the termites. Next year, dig up one and see what ya got. No termites and ants? Good deal. Put the trap back together. Repeat on the next trap. The traps aren't going to create termites, but hopefully if there are any in the soil, they'll aim for the trap instead of your house.</div></div><div closure_uid_opika9="199"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_opika9="199"><div closure_uid_25q64n="193">Is this a sure fire thing? No. Will termites that are already in your building leave for the homemade trap? No. But it's cheap, green and it might save you a few bucks.</div></div></div>Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07463631187414492098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7031681629981232128.post-63302578211958001502011-08-20T09:11:00.003-05:002011-08-20T12:31:09.819-05:00And even more ways to save money<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div closure_uid_bo1ltk="192"><div closure_uid_povuoc="190"><div closure_uid_vkphy3="190">Here's a few more things to save money - I don't think I've listed them before, but a million other bloggers have...</div></div></div><div closure_uid_bo1ltk="192"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_bo1ltk="192"><div closure_uid_povuoc="192">Crank out the vacuum cleaner and hit the things you normally don't think about vacuuming - the refrigerator and freezer coils, anything with a fan. This one I probably have listed before.</div></div><div closure_uid_bo1ltk="192"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_bo1ltk="192">Canned air is great for some things, but not always great for your computer. I use the vacuum instead (sucks dust out instead of blowing it deeper inside of some sensitive parts) BUT use some caution. You don't want to suck out any sensitive part, either. I put my hand loosely over vented areas and then vacuum on top of that hand. Bill (on the other hand) just goes to town with the vac. He had to retrieve his keyboard's G key from the bag one time.</div><div closure_uid_bo1ltk="192"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_bo1ltk="192"><div closure_uid_dzs4hj="179">Replace the furnace and a/c filters often. We buy the cheaper ones and try to remember to replace it once a month.</div></div><div closure_uid_bo1ltk="192"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_bo1ltk="192"><div closure_uid_dzs4hj="181">Save your sugar and flour bags. Cut off the bottom and up one side and you have a heavy, flat sheet that can be used to drain bacon, etc. I was using a coffee filter for a while, but it's just not quite big enough. We have bacon a lot during tomato season, so now I'm going to save all those bags during the baking season.</div></div><div closure_uid_bo1ltk="192"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_bo1ltk="192">Do you buy cold cereal in boxes? All of the following I found at <a href="http://frugalforlife.blogspot.com/">http://frugalforlife.blogspot.com/</a> . The link is to her home page. It's a pretty interesting read.</div><div closure_uid_bo1ltk="192"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_bo1ltk="192">Here's what you can do with the wax paper liner:</div><div closure_uid_bo1ltk="192"><br />
</div><span lang="EN"></span><br />
<div closure_uid_bo1ltk="201">Store bread ends for bread crumbs<br />
Cut to the size of your cake and then put the frosted letters on the liner and freeze, then peel off the letters and place on your cake<br />
Roll into a funnel and pour your spices into the little jars<br />
Crush nuts and graham crackers in them<br />
Use as a cover for nuking items in the microwave<br />
Line the top of cabinets that don't go to the ceiling for easier cleanup<br />
Cover your cutting board with a liner or two to cut down on meat juice soaking into the cutting board<br />
Wrap a piece of liner around the cork to cooking wine for easier removal<br />
Use in freezer to protect food products from moisture and preserve freshness<br />
Easy to wash and reuse due to their sturdiness<br />
Freeze meat in them<br />
Place food on to cool, such as cookies<br />
Use for your lunch to place your sandwich in<br />
Roll out your pie or cookie dough on an opened bag<br />
Use to separate meat, cheese and other food products<br />
Cover your hand and push down rice krispy bars</div><br />
<span lang="EN"></span><br />
<div closure_uid_bo1ltk="202">Now as for the cereal boxes here are a few items to try:<br />
<br />
The standard use as a magazine holder. Just cut diagonally in half.<br />
Cut them up into hundreds of bookmarks, punch a hole in the top and add a ribbon<br />
Open them up, tape the creases open and you have a temporary placemat or something to color on.<br />
A mystery gift box for clothing<br />
Fill with shredded paper and use as a lightweight box filler when shipping<br />
Give them to kids for playing house and shopping</div><div closure_uid_bo1ltk="202">Great for the block builder in your family, and cheaper too.<br />
Cut off the back and flaps and use as a temporary tray<br />
Store your plastic bags, printer paper and other desktop items<br />
Use them as backing in frames for posters and pictures<br />
A quick file folder or mouse pad</div></div>Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07463631187414492098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7031681629981232128.post-31490851463137523552011-08-14T09:28:00.004-05:002011-08-16T07:46:25.855-05:00Switchel - A different way to drink that ACV<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div closure_uid_k2p7qy="201"><div closure_uid_mftsen="190">I first saw this recipe on the Sufficient Self website. I tried it, tweaked it for my own personal taste (less ginger and for sure NOT the oatmeal) and now I'm hooked on the stuff. I also use my homemade apple cider vinegar as it has a bit more apple-y taste.</div></div><br />
I'm doing a copy and paste from Hillbilly Housewife:<br />
<br />
<div closure_uid_k2p7qy="199">Switchel</div><ul><li>1/2 cup apple cider vinegar (yes vinegar)</li>
<li>1/4 cup molasses</li>
<li>1/2 cup sugar or honey</li>
<li>1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger</li>
<li>1/2 cup oatmeal (optional)</li>
<li>tap water to make 2 quarts</li>
</ul><div closure_uid_k2p7qy="200">This is a very old recipe, imported from our Yankee neighbors to the north, and before that, from Nova Scotia. Did you ever wonder what folks used to drink in the days before soda pop, and when lemons were out of season? Why Switchel of course. Instead of lemon juice, it uses a tangy combination of flavorful apple cider vinegar, molasses and ginger to make a summertime treat which will whet your whistle better than any modern thirst quencher I’ve ever run across.</div><div closure_uid_k2p7qy="200"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_oqp9iz="189">First get out a two quart pitcher. Measure the vinegar, molasses, sugar or honey and ginger into it. Add cold tap water to fill. Stir to dissolve everything and serve in tall ice filled cups. Traditionally, oatmeal was also added to the mixture, to give it a little body, and improve the flavor. I am ashamed to say I have never prepared it with the added oatmeal, so if anyone does, please let me know what you think. This beverage takes a little getting used to. It is strongly flavored, nothing bland about it. It tastes best when it has mellowed overnight, blending the ginger with the molasses. It does quench your thirst better than anything else on a hot summer day though, and of course, costs next to nothing to prepare. I have also tried heating it in the winter time and drinking it as a hot toddy, it is actually quite delicious this way.</div><div closure_uid_oqp9iz="189"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_oqp9iz="189"><em>Barb: Blogger still has issues (that might never go away!!), so I'll continue to add my comments up here. </em></div><div closure_uid_oqp9iz="189"><em>Yes, I use a lot less ginger than the recipe, too. I was even thinking that maybe this winter I'd try it heated (without the ginger) and add some cinnamon to a cup. My theory on stuff like this is that it can't be any worse than bad. :o)</em></div></div>Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07463631187414492098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7031681629981232128.post-9280966075425333192011-08-11T09:29:00.001-05:002011-08-11T09:31:16.802-05:00Links for frugal recipes AKA eating on the cheap<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span lang="EN"></span><br />
<div closure_uid_fnajgi="198">“The remarkable thing about my mother is that for thirty years she served us nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found.” ~Calvin Trillin (Copied from another site, but I forgot where I saw it!)</div><div closure_uid_fnajgi="216">______________________________________________</div><div closure_uid_fnajgi="216"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_fnajgi="216"><a href="http://www.leftoverchef.com/">http://www.leftoverchef.com/</a> Wonderful site that lets you type in what ingredients you have around the house, then gives you recipes of what you could make with them.</div><div closure_uid_fnajgi="216"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_fnajgi="216"><a href="http://busycooks.about.com/">http://busycooks.about.com/</a> Tons of info and recipes here. One of my favorite sites to get the recipes to make your own convenience foods and so much more.</div><div closure_uid_fnajgi="216"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_fnajgi="216"><a href="http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?folderId=13&listMode=13&nav=messages&webtag=ab-frugalliving">http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?folderId=13&listMode=13&nav=messages&webtag=ab-frugalliving</a> This is a thread in a forum that has a lot of frugal recipes.</div><div closure_uid_fnajgi="219"><br />
<div closure_uid_fnajgi="220"><span lang="EN"><a href="http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/">http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/</a> Lots of recipes and information for the frugal minded.</span></div><div closure_uid_fnajgi="220"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_fnajgi="220"><span lang="EN"><a href="http://www.miserlymoms.com/frugalrecipes_updated.html">http://www.miserlymoms.com/frugalrecipes_updated.html</a> </span></div><div closure_uid_fnajgi="220"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_fnajgi="220"><span lang="EN"><a href="http://www.allthingsfrugal.com/recipes.htm">http://www.allthingsfrugal.com/recipes.htm</a> </span></div><div closure_uid_fnajgi="220"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_fnajgi="220"><span lang="EN"></span><span lang="EN">These links should keep you busy for a while. I'll post more as I come across them. Let me know if you have some that are favorites of yours!</span></div></div></div>Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07463631187414492098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7031681629981232128.post-84091349234911311602011-08-02T08:45:00.000-05:002011-08-02T08:45:11.135-05:00The Cost of Working Calculator<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div closure_uid_9c1ml3="195">Years ago I was working a job that I truly hated, but felt I <em>had</em> to keep since we needed the extra paycheck. It was one of those things that I couldn't even enjoy my two days off, as one of those days was spent in dreading the following work day.</div><div closure_uid_9c1ml3="195"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_9c1ml3="195">Then we did our taxes. I was in the middle of check registers and paper shuffle when it hit me. I went through the check registers (pre-debit card and computer era), adding up everything that I had spent for the year that was even remotely associated with my job. Most of it was eating out because I was too tired and too disorganized to put a meal together. There were a few checks written for clothing and I figured in the extra gasoline.</div><div closure_uid_9c1ml3="195"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_9c1ml3="195">So, how'd I fare? Drum roll please....I was actually clearing $1.35 an hour. That sucked. I don't know that it would have felt any better if I had actually loved the job. I stuck it out for a few more months until I decided that I'd rather sit out on the curb with a 'will work for food' sign.</div><div closure_uid_9c1ml3="195"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_9c1ml3="195">Here's a nifty little calculator that will help you decide if it's worth working a crappy job, or any job for that matter. Make sure you subtract what you pay in taxes before you enter your amount in the 'net income' field. <a href="http://www.anycalculator.com/costofworking.htm">http://www.anycalculator.com/costofworking.htm</a></div><div closure_uid_9c1ml3="195"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_9c1ml3="195">This still won't give you the total picture. There's the wear and tear on your vehicle to consider (oil changes, tires, tune ups). Sure, you'll still have those expenses whether you work or not, but a set of tires will last you many years if you're only driving 5000 miles each year. Okay, maybe you aren't in hermit mode like I am. Last year I drove 1750 miles. But you see what I'm talking about.</div><div closure_uid_9c1ml3="195"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_9c1ml3="195">There's also the flip side to consider. If your employer pays for part of a health insurance plan, you probably get cheaper rates from the group insurance plan. Buying health insurance on your own is really expensive. Or you can go without it. Many people can't afford it.</div><div closure_uid_9c1ml3="195"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_9c1ml3="195">Would you go nuts staying home? I thought I would, but I was going nuts working crappy jobs, too.</div><div closure_uid_9c1ml3="195"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_9c1ml3="195">Things are different today than what they were years ago. The internet has tons of information available with some mouse clicking. I could have learned how to save that couple hundred bucks that I was actually clearing each month and not stressed about it. </div><div closure_uid_9c1ml3="195"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_9c1ml3="195">Maybe this will help you decide if it's time to quit working for someone else, live a more self sufficient lifestyle, or if it's time to look for a better job.</div></div>Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07463631187414492098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7031681629981232128.post-23331834548448940842011-06-21T08:00:00.000-05:002011-06-21T08:00:59.290-05:00How much am I actually saving?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span lang="EN"> A while back a friend asked how much money I was actually saving by doing all the ‘weird things’ that are so typical in my life now. He has stressed a few times that even though I make things from scratch, I still have to buy <i>something</i>. He’s right to a certain extent. My usual answer is ‘that’s not the point’. Here’s my take on it:<br />
<br />
Saving money at the grocery store - Usually making something from scratch is a lot cheaper than buying convenience foods, but not always. I could buy a cheap brownie mix for $1.07, but the homemade recipe I use is so much better although it probably costs as much or more to make. If I used a more generic recipe, it’d be cheaper.<br />
Bread is another thing that I don’t feel guilty about buying, especially in the warm months. We like several types of ‘bird seed bread’, like 12 grain, etc. I don’t want to buy a bunch of different grains to make that. But during the winter we also have homemade white, whole wheat, oatmeal, skillet bread, etc. <br />
<br />
Keeping as much plastic and other packaging out of the waste and recycle stream - Plastic can be recycled only so many times before it becomes toxic. I switched to real butter sticks instead of plastic tubs of margarine, make grape jelly (one aluminum can from shelf stable grape juice vs. three plastic jars to recycle), etc. <br />
<br />
Not having to drive into town as often to get groceries - It’s a full gallon of gas round trip. Need I say more? I can make tons of things with just staples I keep on the shelf so there’s no running to the store to pick up a couple of things.<br />
<br />
The ability to make pretty much whatever I want or need from the staples I keep on hand. - Now this is where the ‘make it from scratch’ really shines. I hate the taste of powdered milk, but it’s great for cooking and mixes. I use it in cream of chicken (or mushroom or celery) soup mix, flavored coffee creamers, all kinds of substitutions like sweetened condensed milk sub, on and on. The cream of whatever soup mix is stored in a smallish glass jar, and makes the equivalent of 9 cans of condensed soup. You’re just making your own convenience foods. It really doesn’t take that long to make the mixes and most use just simple ingredients.<br />
<br />
So how much am I actually saving by doing all my ‘weird things‘? I tried to figure it out about 6 months ago. Although the numbers would vary month to month, it was $197 for that month. </span></div>Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07463631187414492098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7031681629981232128.post-57752783393892054742011-06-18T08:34:00.000-05:002011-06-18T08:34:50.500-05:00The Cost of Doing Laundry<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span lang="EN"> Mr. Electric has a bunch of little energy calculators to help you understand how little or how much power you use for typical day to day living. Most of us here in the US use a washer and dryer. You can see how much it costs to do a month's worth of laundry at your place by going here:<br />
<a href="http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/laundry.html">http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/laundry.html</a> <br />
<br />
I have been using homemade laundry soap for months, but sometimes I wash grungy work jeans in Simple Green, or add $0.10 worth of baking soda to the wash. I also have a private well, so every time I use a bunch of water, the pressure tank kicks on, using electricity. Ditto for the well pump. On the flip side, my Fisher-Paykel washer uses 1/3 less water than a standard washing machine. So my numbers aren't exactly accurate. <br />
<br />
I'm okay with hanging clothes, but I hate stiff clothes, so I do the 5 or 10 minute dryer thing with a couple of dry towels, then hang everything to finish drying.<br />
<br />
So, how did I come out? Drum roll please.... My cost by using homemade laundry detergent, cold water wash, 10 minute dryer time and 4 loads per week = $2.41 a month. Wowser!<br />
<br />
He does a have blurp about putting a wet towel in with your clothes that have sat in the dryer, then turning the dryer on again. Why do that? Does it matter if your underwear is wrinkled? Just hang up your shirts, whatever, then give them a few light sprays of water and let them dry for a little bit. You could also hang it in the bathroom while you take a shower. The steam will relax all the wrinkles, and it will be good to go by the time you finish getting ready. You might want to hang it outside of the bathroom when you're drying your hair, etc. I did this all the time when I was traveling with my job. Sometimes I had to finish 'drying' a heavier dress, pants, whatever by using the blow dryer for a minute, but most things were dry enough to put on. </span></div>Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07463631187414492098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7031681629981232128.post-1084332169773859172011-06-16T15:22:00.005-05:002011-06-19T08:16:27.567-05:00The Cost of Using Your Coffee Maker<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span lang="EN">According to the <strike>propaganda</strike>, I mean newsletter from the local electricity company, the average annual cost of using your coffee maker is $80. Too bad it doesn’t say if the cost was figured from just brewing, or how long the warming burner was on. Since a lot of coffee makers have a two hour auto shut off, maybe that time was factored into the cost. I drink a lot of coffee, especially when the weather is cold, so my coffee maker gets a workout. In an effort to get a more accurate read on my coffee maker, I went to Mr. Electricity - <a href="http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/howmuch.html">http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/howmuch.html</a><br />
<br />
He has a nifty table that you can plug in your own numbers, electric rate and hours to get your 'real' numbers. Holy Mama!! My coffee maker annual cost is almost $200 a year for the amount of time that I usually have it on. $16.44 a month. Wow. Can't be. Now I'm sure that there's more power consumed during the brew stage, but hey, I want coffee without having to build a fire outside. I originally set the energy calculator for 5 hours daily usage, but like I said, I'm sure the 900 watts (which is the <em>most</em> it will use) is for the brew cycle and nothing is mentioned for the warming element. BUT, by setting the calculator to just 5 minutes (brew time only), it brings my monthly cost down to $0.28. I'm not sure that's right, either.</span><br />
<br />
According to the smart people at <a href="http://www.nppd.com/My_Home/Product_Brochures/Additional_Files/electric_usage.asp">http://www.nppd.com/My_Home/Product_Brochures/Additional_Files/electric_usage.asp</a> , using the brew cycle on my coffee maker once a day is costing me $1.17 a month. My electric rates are higher than their list, so I busted out the calculator. But this sounds reasonable.<br />
<br />
I bought a Thermos brand carafe for $13 and pour the freshly brewed coffee into that. The coffee maker gets clicked off right away. Besides less electricity used, my coffee maker may last longer and the best thing is better tasting coffee later. Worth every cent and short payback period.<br />
<br />
*Note - this brand does not hold an entire pot like my previous Wal-Mart el cheapo carafe that I hated. It was a battle to get the lid screwed on correctly every time I used it. I was glad when it bit the dust. The new Thermos brand carafe is definitely better.</div>Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07463631187414492098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7031681629981232128.post-20338289510467361122011-06-05T08:41:00.007-05:002011-11-04T14:45:38.538-05:00Ways with Whey - what to do with it<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I just had another failed yogurt experience. Sure tastes good though. This time I used whole milk and an envelope of unflavored gelatin. I'm now convinced it's because of my old, old slow cooker. It heats up just fine, but not insulated at all, so it doesn't keep the yogurt warm enough during the resting phase. I did use vanilla yogurt instead of plain as the starter culture so that might have had something to do with it. I also just learned that you can 'incubate' it for 12-14 hours and it will be thicker and have a tarter flavor. So I turned on the slow cooker for 10 minutes and will let it sit for another 2 or 3 hours to see what happens.<br />
<br />
If you didn't read my first post about homemade yogurt, I used Steph's recipe from her blog at <a href="http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/10/you-can-make-yogurt-in-your-crockpot.html">http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/10/you-can-make-yogurt-in-your-crockpot.html</a><br />
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Most of this batch was destined to be yogurt cheese anyway. I'm going to put it in a colander lined with one of Bill's hankerchiefs (bleached, rinsed well and from now on designated to the kitchen - he doesn't use them anyway) and drain the whey. We love that stuff (the yogurt cheese, not the whey) and there's plenty of bagels around. I especially love it with canned or fresh pears and a sprinkling of chopped walnuts.<br />
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<div closure_uid_l6lx1a="180">The smart people at <a closure_uid_l6lx1a="188" href="http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/publications/nchfp/factsheets/yogurt.html">http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/publications/nchfp/factsheets/yogurt.html</a> say that the gelatin inhibits whey seperation. Bummer. I'll see what happens. (Later: Some of the whey has drained off and now it has the consistancy of a respectable yogurt. I used a spatula to scrape along the edges of the cloth so the whey will continue to drain.)</div><br />
I also found this great toubleshooting blog page (and recipes!) - <a href="http://www.salad-in-a-jar.com/skinny-secrets/healthy-homemade-greek-yogurt">http://www.salad-in-a-jar.com/skinny-secrets/healthy-homemade-greek-yogurt</a><br />
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Okay, what to do with the whey? If you used whole milk to make your yogurt, a half cup of whey has approximately 30 cal., no fat, 1 gram protein ,7 grams carbohydrates, 130 mg calcium (according to the Dannon yogurt people). Whey also contains many of the most important vitamins and nutrients in yogurt. <br />
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Although I could add some to the dogs' chow, I kinda want to take the 'people first' route. I tried drinking some of it and frankly you have a stronger constitution than I do to get that stuff down just the way it is.<br />
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Here are the best suggestions I have found so far:<br />
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Pour it into ice cubes and freeze it to use in baking. You can use it in place of buttermilk in any recipe. It gives the same flavor and richness with none of the fat. It is supposed to make the best "buttermilk" biscuits and pancakes. Use it in place of water in any bread recipe. This is what I'll probably do with whey from now on.<br />
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You can use it in other fermented food recipes like sauerkraut or WAP ketchup (what's that?)<br />
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Soak your grains or beans in it. Soaked grains (oatmeal, rice, quinoa) and beans take less time to cook, are easier to digest and allow our bodies to utilize more of the nutrients. Add 1-2 T of whey to your water and soak overnight. Maybe this will help cut down on the 'whiffy' side effects of beans later.<br />
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Season your whey with garlic or other spices and use it as a marinade for meat. This works especially well with frozen meats. The enzymes will help bring out the flavor.<br />
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Make some homemade ricotta cheese. I tried this one time and was happily surprised. The ricotta has a real fine texture. I didn't have enough and since I usually use cottage cheese in lasagna, so I mixed the two. Good stuff.<br />
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Add some to a smoothie. (See note above about having a strong constitution.)<br />
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And of course, give some to the dogs and chickens. My hens looked at me like I was green and had horns when I tried giving them some whey. They just walked off. After I put some oatmeal in the whey, they finally did eat some of it, but I might as well have just dumped it on the compost pile.<br />
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AND today (11-4-11) I discovered a list of 18 ways to use whey at Paula's 'Salad in a Jar site:<br />
<a href="http://www.salad-in-a-jar.com/recipes-with-yogurt/18-ways-to-use-whey-a-by-product-of-greek-yogurt">http://www.salad-in-a-jar.com/recipes-with-yogurt/18-ways-to-use-whey-a-by-product-of-greek-yogurt</a><br />
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Let me know if you have any other suggestions!</div>Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07463631187414492098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7031681629981232128.post-10593556009156633242011-05-14T08:22:00.002-05:002011-05-24T07:58:04.971-05:00Even MORE ways to save money and end up with moneyPut your debit card away. It's pretty easy to grab that thing and use it, huh. You're less likely to buy impulse items if you have to dig out the check book or use cash. Vow to never get cash from the ATM that charges you a fee. If your bank charges you fees for checking, look for another bank.<br />
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Now that you have the checkbook in your possession again, there are some things you can do. First, start a coin can.<br />
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Write the check at the grocery store to the next highest dollar so you get some change back. When you get home, put the coins in your new 'savings' can. Every time you have a few coins in your pocket, add them to the can. A lot of people save $300 a year doing this simple thing.<br />
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Use coupons? Rebates? Put that money in your coin can when you get home.<br />
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Talk yourself out of buying something extra at the store? Put that money in the coin can.<br />
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Got an expensive habit, like tobacco or alcohol? Try to cut it in half. You're already used to the money leaving your pocket, so put the 'saved' money in the coin can.<br />
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If you usually have cash in your wallet, can you add a dollar a day to the can? Or even just a dollar a week?<br />
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Now that you have your own little stash at home, use it to your advantage. Do the debt snowballing thing to stop paying interest. If you saved up $30 in your coin can this month, take it to the bank and then pay an extra $30 on your credit card payment, car payment, etc. You can get a good idea of how much your loan is costing you (and how much you'll save by paying a little extra each month!) by using an online 'what's missing' calculator like this one - <a href="http://www.hughchou.org/calc/missing.cgi">http://www.hughchou.org/calc/missing.cgi</a> . Hugh has a ton of different calculators to help you.<br />
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Round up to the next dollar when you subtract the check amount in the register. Write a check for $39.03? Subtract $40. By the end of the year, you could have another $300.<br />
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You can also write 'saved' amounts on a calendar. This comes in handy when you get back from the store and only used $2.15 worth of coupons, or decided not to buy that bottle of water from the convenience store. Put that amount on your calendar. At the end of the month (or sooner!), make an extra online payment on your credit card. Seems like another bill going out, doesn't it. But it's money that you would have spent in your previous lifestyle. If it's just a few dollars at the end of the month, add it to your usual payment.<br />
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Need to buy a car? Buy a used one instead of the new hybrid you really want. The money you'll save over all by lower cost, insurance and taxes will more than offset what you'd save in gasoline costs. I hate this one, but it's true.<br />
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Sometimes you have to look at quality over cost. We could save $500 by buying a used riding lawn mower, but by spending the extra, we'll get a three year warranty and know that we aren't buying someone else's problem. We'll take good care of it, so it should last us for as long as we're here or will need one.<br />
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Rent a movie instead of going to the movies. More popcorn, whatever drinks you want and as much as what you want, plus you won't miss part of it if you need to make a pit stop halfway through. Write down what you normally would have spent on the calendar.<br />
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Try more private label stuff at the grocery store. Some of it is lousy, but many items are just as good as the name brands. Jot down the price difference, then add it up when you get home. Put the difference in the can, or write it on the calendar.<br />
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Every two years, check around for insurance rates. Insurance companies have a way of sneaking the rates up. Look for an insurance broker that doesn't represent just one company or look online. <br />
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Ideally, come April 15th, you don't want to have to send a check, but you also don't want to use the IRS for a savings account, either. But some people qualify for money back that they didn't send to them to begin with. Don't go buy that new computer! Pay off your debt or put it in a savings account.<br />
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Just got a raise at work? Lucky you! Use that extra money to pay off debt or save.Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07463631187414492098noreply@blogger.com0