health

We Wanted An Angel

February 15, 2012 by admin

She had the face of an angel and the voice of an angel. Whitney Houston leaves behind a daughter and a breathtaking musical legacy. Like Judy Garland, Edith Piaf, and many others before her, she also leaves behind the debris of an addicted life.

A cacophony of criticizing, judgmental voices has already arisen on the Internet. Gossips chat gleefully about her last hours. All eyes are on Bobby Brown, considered by many to be the villain of the piece. Even young Bobbi Kristina hasn’t escaped unscathed, and she’s just a teenaged girl whose mom just died!

Welcome to our celebrity culture. We put people on pedestals so we can get a better view of them when we shoot our rifles of judgment at them. We expect our celebrities to be something beyond human. We buy their records or watch their movies and somehow start to believe that we own them. We need to know every bit of their business and then comment on it. On Monday, while at the grocery store, I heard two employees complaining about the choice of Jennifer Hudson to sing the Whitney tribute at the Grammys. J-Hud, in her recent book, describes some of the hurtful comments she’s received because she lost 80 pounds and got healthy! Apparently we’ve already moved on to the next target!

Then there are the celebs who refuse to play by the scripts we have handed them. Angelina and Madonna keep creating, keep growing as artists, despite the roar of the judging crowd. After the Super Bowl, Madonna was described by some as an “arthritic grandmother” who could no longer handle the rigors of long dance routines. I saw that same performance, and the only problem I saw was her shoes! I think the heels were causing Girlfriend some problems. These women keep going, no matter what, and they have learned to ignore our opinions about them. That causes some to shoot even more, spreading outright lies to try to “get” to them.

After we tear them down, we hope for redemption. On the same weekend that Whitney Houston died, we honored Glen Campbell for his contributions to the music industry, and we are touched by this man’s dignity as he fades into the sunset of Alzheimer’s but is enjoying his final performances. Campbell, too, struggled with alcoholism and addiction, and it’s possible that those years of abuse contributed to his illness. But we love a good comeback story, don’t we? Tear ’em down, then build ’em back up again.

People often think that celebrities, with all their money, are immune to problems and challenges. We don’t know what started Whitney on her road to addiction. It could have been something as simple as taking a sleeping pill. For some, it’s taking that very first drink — some alcoholics are addicted from that very moment. There’s a lot we still don’t know about brain chemistry and addiction, but to criticize an addict for being addicted makes no sense. Addiction is not a character flaw. It is much, much more complicated than that.

If you don’t understand this, stop eating sugar or drinking coffee for thirty days and see how that works for you.

She sang like an angel and looked like an angel, and we wanted her to be one so we wouldn’t have to be. When she showed us that she was all too human, we disapproved. We expected more from her than we do of ourselves. Would you like to live with that kind of pressure?

We will never know the truth of Whitney’s end. I am sad that she never saw her 50s and all the good that comes from maturing. I am sad that her daughter must live without a mother. I am sad that we understand so little about addiction. I am sad that we will never hear new material from a remarkable and talented artist. Mostly, I am sad that we wanted an angel instead of accepting that she was just like us — with joys, sorrows, talents, and troubles. She was human.

The Trouble With Resolutions

January 5, 2012 by admin

One of the fun things about blogging is that I’m always meeting new people in the blogosphere. This is especially important this week, because I’m writing about weight loss…but as you know if you read my work regularly, I have a lot on my mind about many subjects, so I’ll be leaving this topic after today. For ongoing support, take a look at Inspired Weight Loss, which is providing a great service to the online community. Go visit Patsy and friends, and you won’t be sorry.

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The trouble with resolutions is keeping them. I started my weight loss resolution in December because I didn’t want to put on yet another pound over the holidays. So far, so good. However, here are the facts: I am basically where I was this time last year, within less than a pound. I started 2011 with the same good intentions, and it fell apart.

One of my guilty pleasures is watching The Biggest Loser. Even though I have never had a lot of weight to lose, I do know that my personal issues have often kept me from living to my highest potential. As I watch the contestants work through their fears and unresolved pain, I see hope for myself. It also inspires me to keep working out when I don’t feel like it! Anyway, this season they are focusing on “no excuses,” so I thought I would confess mine (you may relate!), along with strategies for overcoming those excuses.

I have too much going on — There’s never a good time to lose weight. Life is always happening! I think the key is to see healthful eating and exercising as necessary fuel to get through the stressors that come at us at all times.
I have perimenopausal mood swings — At 53, I’m getting damned sick of this one. I am STILL having periods, though they are at least getting more erratic. With them come tears for no reason, dark moods, and irritability. During these times, the last thing I want to do is have a salad. Bring on the cake! To counter this one, I meditate more, take my Omega 3 supplements, and nourish my system with herbal infusions. I write down whatever is upsetting or confusing. I let myself have a good cry. And yes, I have some chocolate — but in small amounts, and only the dark kind. It really satisfies my cravings without blowing the diet.
I hit plateaus — It’s harder to lose weight than it used to be, so I get discouraged easily. Last year I got sick of trying. It seemed as though it didn’t matter whether I ate like crazy or didn’t, my weight was about the same. I’m hoping that by tweaking my fitness regimen and measuring my food, I’ll be able to break through plateaus this year. I’m also willing to go to Weight Watchers meetings if need be to get support and help.
It’s hard to lose weight when traveling — I covered most of my nutritional strategies a few days ago, so I won’t repeat them here. I have gotten much better. Sometimes I still get fooled and order something less healthy than it looked on the menu, but I’m doing my best, and that’s what matters. As they say in 12-Step programs, “progress, not perfection.”
All or nothing — It’s easy to give up when I have had a “slip” and eaten too much. It’s important to take things one day at a time. If I fall, I can forgive myself, and get up the next day and begin again.
Fear of success — And this, folks, is the winner. Every time I have come close to my goal weight, I’ve been scared about just how darn good I look. I have a lot of thoughts about this subject…so I’ll revisit this one soon in more detail.

What about you? What are or have been your excuses? How do you counter them?

Weight Loss Exercise Strategies

January 4, 2012 by admin

For those of us who are 50+, our fitness levels are as different as snowflakes. Some of us are strong and healthy, while others have mobility challenges and joint problems. As you read this post, please remember to take precious care of yourselves and see a doctor before beginning any new activities.

When we pass age 40, and even more at age 50, our bodies start to lose muscle mass. This makes weight loss more challenging as our metabolism slows. Any exercise program at our age must include a certain amount of strength training to rebuild muscle mass and thus increase our metabolism.

Also, after suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome from 1996-2001 (with occasional flare-ups for a few years after that), I have learned something interesting about my body. It is essential that when doing cardio, I don’t allow my heart rate to go above that magical 80% of maximum. If I do so, even after all these years of feeling great, I have a flare-up. If I stay within my guidelines and use a heart monitor, no problem. This may be useful advice for you, too, even if you are healthy!

My current physical condition is good, as evidenced by my ability to hike for up to eight hours a day up Swiss mountainsides. The good news is that I’m strong. The question is, then, what do I need in my daily routine in order to lose weight?

My favorite forms of exercise are walking and yoga, both of which have a strong mind-body component to them. I will keep them both around because of the mental health benefits, even though both are great as physical activities. If you’re new to exercise, start with walking, which doesn’t cost any money and is unlikely to cause injury. If you want to try yoga but are 50+ and inflexible, start with a gentle class. I was chatting with a technician recently at the medical clinic who told me she was doing the video Yoga For The Rest of Us. She does her poses in a chair because she can’t yet get on the floor. I think that’s a fantastic place to begin, especially if you have mobility issues.

For me, though, to lose weight I have to do a little more. First, I started to intensify my aerobic activity. My favorite aerobic videos are by Ellen Barrett, who combines pilates, yoga, and calesthenics with aerobic dance to create a fun mind-body workout that feels easier than it actually is. Although Ellen isn’t 50+ and doesn’t market specifically to the 50+ crowd, I would recommend them highly as a safe workout if you’re in good health. I own (almost) every video she’s done since. She’s an absolute treasure!

By the way, if you have an iPad, you can download the FitnessClass app and watch Ellen’s videos there. I take her with me when we travel. At home, we have Apple TV, so I can open the video in the iPad and then send the video to our TV. We’re geeky in our household, what can I say?

To improve strength, try out Eight Weeks to a Younger Body by Joan Pagano. In this book, you create a customized workout of cardio, stretch, and strength. My only caution here is to check with your doctor, especially if you have knee problems, before combining a stepper with weights. You will need some equipment for these workouts, but do the tests before buying anything.

How often to work out? Currently I do cardio 5-6 times per week at about 45 minutes per session. I exercise in the morning after my breakfast digests. Some recommend exercising before breakfast, but that doesn’t work for me — so find what’s right for you. When I had a corporate job, I exercised on my lunch hour or in the evening.

My strength training combines cardio with it, so that’s included in the cardio frequency. I do strength training 2-3 times per week. I do yoga in the afternoons after I’m done with my work, and it allows me to transition from the workday.

Your workouts may vary. If you’re not exercising, I encourage you to begin. The dividends will pay off in better sleep, improved mood, and weight loss.

Okay, so I’ve given you my eating and exercise plan. The only thing left to do is talk about…sabotage. More about that tomorrow!