Coffee Break #35 - Spring is upon us!!

Glad that you are recovering, Thom.

It's fairly simple. Sugary carbs - bad. Carbs with fiber - good. Have some protein with your meal. Limit the fat. That's it.

This is from their website...

Simply grab a Nutrisystem® entrée for your meal, add-in a few grocery items (like fresh fruit, vegetables, salads and dairy items), and you're good to go.

They tell you to eat their entrees. They stress that it's free delivery.

Of course they do, Jen. But this method has been around long before them They just profit from it. Google glycemic index and you'll see. You don't need anyone else.

Lots of holistic practitioners would disagree about the fat. It's the carbs that get me fat, not the fat. Now if it's fat from cookies and cakes then yes you need to stay away from them, don't even bring them in the house. If you have a craving they say go and get a single serve size to satisfy the craving.

I said limit fat, not eliminate. Too much fat is no good for your cardio system. Fatty foods tend to be high in cholesterol. High fat diets are linked to many cancers.

Other important factor - choose your parents carefully.

Victor, that was how the corneal specialist came up with the diagnosis (conclusive diagnosis). He's only seen 3 cases in his 20 + years. I mentioned, just off the cuff that I'm going to miss seeing my plants...at one point he was talking about me possibly needing a corneal transplant...it was that bad. The raised area on my cornea was 3x3. Which considering how small that is, mm we are speaking of, it would be almost the equal of having about a 3" x 3" lump on your hand. He was afraid that if the fungal drops didn't work that I would need the transplant. That was the whole thing that had me so worried. It was Vigamox (strong antibiotic) for the first 10 days, then a revisit, then it was the Vigamox and an ointment for another 10 days, then it was the final diagnosis, and the fungal drops, and another 10 days, and the final revisit. It took over 3 days for the pharmacy to get the fungal eye drops in.


I can see myself staying on an Atkins-like diet. I love carbs, LOVE THEM. When it comes to all things bread, I'm a glutten. As long as I keep in mind that I can't stay on the Atkin's diet forever, but can keep my carbs low, almost akin to what someone with diabetes would do, I'll be ok. I'm not missing any of my favorite foods, and on my weekends off I "cheat" and have pizza or a hoagie, something like that. I have noticed I can't eat as much as what I used to. lol.

Victor, I would love to see you debate with my hhp friend. Everything you said is contrary to all the tests they have conducted.

This message was edited Mar 16, 2010 10:44 AM

Wow - be careful about rubbing your eyes, Thom!

I assume hhp means holistic, Jen? Everything I said??! So they are against exercise?? I said that was number one. It can cover up lots.

Being overweight and having a healthy cardio system are not the same. There are many people with stents and bypasses who are not obese. Why??

Nice to see you posting, Thom, & am really glad your eye is better! Now you can get to those DL photos & drool! We came home last night from a 5 day trip to Maine, MA, & NH....very tiring driving home in the rain, but glad we escaped it Fri. & Sat. morn in Maine. Walked at Kennebunk Beach & Rachel Carson Preserve in Wells. Saw some nice sea ducks.

My sister is ultra thin, almost a veggie, & has high cholesterol---genetics in my Dad's family. I believe sugar is the worst thing...when I limited sugars, I felt the best, & my cholesterol was the lowest. That said, we stopped by our friend's farm in NH yesterday...she had just made doughnuts, they were still warm, & she served them with maple syrup the grandkids had made...I ate 2 :(

Same here. My mom's family has genetically high cholesterol. Sugary carbs are awful and are the main cause of diabetes. But fat - especially saturated fat - is not good either. I just had my cholesterol checked. I've missed many workouts lately due to my back and knee problems. I have also eaten lots of cheese during the holidays. Carb intake has been steady. My LDL rose dramatically.

Hey Thom - I understand the problem with your eye. I had
1st - an infection 136 bucks for the eye drops and 510 for the hospital visit (no ins here)
but it wasnt an infection it was wide angle glaucoma. So back to the Drs. 100 for the visit and it turned to Iritis. All the drops were free samples from the docs office so that was a plus.

So dont get in the dumps, your eye is feeling like a new eye!

Thom, good luck with the diet, it's not easy. For me low fat (good fats) and low carb (good carbs too) lots of exercise and moderation is the key. Bottom line, you need to burn more calories than you take in and for me exercise in any form is the key. My mother was heavy and died of pancreatic cancer at age 57, was it diet? I tend to think so...I was raised on tasycakes, lunchmeat sandwiches on white bread, apple pies and beef at least 3xs a week if not more.I turned my life around at 24 I didn't want to follow in her foot steps. My dad lived o be 80 but died in the end of a stroke. you can't pick your parents but I do believe if we keep ourselves informed we can fight certain things. keep up the good work it pays off for sure. My sister who has always been heavy her entire life turned herself around at age 50...lost about about 30 lbs. just changing her diet....now if I can get her to quit smoking...

http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/news/crime/heist-of-up-to-%2475-million-in-drugs
Right down the street from me! Wish they'd given me a heads up--I'm out of pain meds! There's the police chief in the video Celeste!

This message was edited Mar 16, 2010 12:33 PM

Hi Thom! So nice to hear from you. I'm sorry to hear about your eye problems, but happy to hear it wasn't as bad as they thought it might be. Interesting to know it possibly came from gardening. I understand not having enough money to buy plants. That can be a bummer. When I'm broke, I plan on moving stuff around in the garden, but haven't gotten to it.

Anyway, I'm glad to see you're still here visiting. Congratulations on losing the 50 lbs! Good luck with that final 15.

Harper

Anyone else get their census form yet? Got mine yesterday. Filled with stupidity, of course. Like telling me not to count anyone who is in 'jail, prison or a detention facility.' And why do they need to know what race/ethnicity people are?? All they really need is a count, not a breakdown. Interestingly, if you are Asian or Hispanic, they want to know what specific country you are from. But if you're white they don't need to know. And they list 'Black, African-American or Negro.' Didn't think we even used the term 'negro' anymore. Can one be a negro without being black or African-American??

I am really tempted to choose 'Other race', and fill in 'human.'

I put mine in the mail last week. 'Other race' - I should of put in Martian

We got ours today.

We got ours today also.

Thom, glad they finally figured out the cause of the eye problem. Good luck with that last 15.

I am soooo enjoying being outside today.

What a horrible, freaky tragedy.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9EFTT6O0&show_article=1

got mine today haven't opened it yet.

Yep, got my census form also. They still have no way to properly identify any persons out there as Domestic/Life partners...so for Paul and myself, I checked the box of "unmarried partner"....sigh

One day, we'll get there....one day...lol

I did notice that if you are "white" that is the only option you have...every other ethnicity/race has a box, and a box, or a box and a line...so my generic question is, who really is the marginalized minority now? I'm not trying to start up a "hot button" topic, just general conversation.
I understand why they do the census, we are bombarded with these (IMO-silly) radio advertisements of: car sounds, voice over of a man saying something along the lines that, "our city was small," but (more car sounds, and then more)..."filling out the census, lets our government know if we need more stop lights" (more car noised, crashes, etc) "It's really important to fill out the census."

What does any of the race/ethnic issues have to do with, as Victor pointed out already, a body count of people so our government knows to put money back into places that have grown for more "stop lights?"

Shooting my crocus this morning I got to thinking about why they, and other flowers, close at night. I always assumed it had to do with pollinators but many of the same pollinators visit flowers that are always open and the ones that close and reopen. Any ideas???

so sorry to hear of your trouble Thom... we missed you!!... just so you know the MA forum is having a plant swap at RRR place either the week before or after memorial day

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1072547/

should not be far for you...

glad to hear about your diet.. I should follow that lead!!.. I did really great on Jenny Craig .. and for years and years... even after stopping there food... just fell off the wagon now.. story of my life.. but I have to get back on track.. but I am very proud of you!!!

Wow - could have gone to Staples instead!

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20100316/D9EFUJB00.html

that's terrible... I have a question for Sherrie.. if you start seeds in the greenhouse.. do you still use a dome on the flats?

Grrrrr... the car is giving me problems. The AT OIL TEMP light was just flashing at me. I had only driven about a mile. The car wasn't even warm yet. The oil was just changed two weeks ago. I wish I could find my owners manual. Does anyone know where you can get an owner's manual online?

Did you try googling yet?

Maybe the flowers closing is a method of heat conservation to reduce damage to sesitive petals from early am frosts...

Sometimes they have to put in an external air cooler for high AT oil temps, best to get it checked or trans can 'burn-up'. Hopefully just low oil level...

Edit: (add an 'n' to se_sitive above) lol...

This message was edited Mar 16, 2010 7:23 PM

Yeah, I can only find paid sites.

Can't be low oil level or high temp. The oil tank's full. I checked. This happened once before and the guy said the sensor was bad, so I had it replaced. ...sigh...

You sure you added that 'n', Bill?

That is the transmission fluid temp, not the engine oil.

Yep, & the engine has to be warm before you check it...

This is the news story I was looking for earlier to post--heard it on the noon news...what is wrong with some people? Can't imagine why this would seem like a good idea to anyone on any level... http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/news/crime/vandals-cut-deep-into-the-park-city

Victor, the only thing I can come up with would depend on the species or more importantly genus of the flowering plant in question...and who or what pollinates them.

I would go out on a limb and assume the reason why most plants close up during the evening, is that they aren't diurnal, and use the sun for energy...helping set seed pods, photosynthesis, etc. Yet there are some plants that open at night time, but they are pollinated by bats/moths, and yet other only open during the day/evening, or hottest/muggiest part of the day, for flies to pollinate them. I wonder if some of the Arasiema (jack in the pulpit) or the Voodoo Lilies, open/close at night also? I might shoot a dmail off to LariAnn and see what she says...since she is the Aroid guru :-)

always thought provoking you are (said in my best Yoda impersonation!)

Transmission fluid! Oh! I'll call my mechanic tomorrow. He should know better. Maybe I'll go to the dealer.

wow I didn't realize it was that bad.. glad I did not go to that area for work today

http://juliekirsten.wordpress.com/2010/03/15/pompton-plainsrt-23-flood-pictures/

Motto: Never move into a basin area!