The liver is a very important organ. It filters toxins out of your body and when it gets upset or irritated, it lets you know. Symptoms of liver stress include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain in your upper right quadrant (under your rib cage), and a general feeling of extreme yuckiness. It's awful. It's how my sickness started and I still feel my liver from time to time. Apparently garlic is really good for your liver. According to Chris, of ChrisBeatCancer.com, garlic is the number one disease fighting food. It, and other allium veggies, actually stop cancer cells from growing. He eats something like three crushed cloves a day, chased down with water, and takes garlic supplements. He stinks. He admits it. If we all do this, I don't think it'd be a problem.
I don't drink alcohol at the moment. I really like alcohol. It was the thing I missed most when I was pregnant with Asher. I missed my 1/2 a bottle of beer a day that turned the chore of cooking dinner into a time of pleasure. Now, I don't drink because my liver is 'sensitive.' This diagnosis is all mine; my doctors don't agree. But I don't want to risk it. For all of you who are able to enjoy your drink, I envy you. I suggest taking a little Milk Thistle. It's also supposed to be good for your liver if you drink.
So eat your garlic, take your thistle. And while you're at it, go ahead and add some Turmeric to your diet. It's one of those incredible spices that does wonders for your immune system. I add some to my smoothie daily. And my quinoa.
Love thy liver.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
I Need Yoga
I recently read a blog post by James Altucher called:
A) Make a youtube video (or channel) that has five million real views.
B ) Get past the second series of Ashtanga Yoga. (at least part of this has to occur in India).
C) Make a business that has over $50,000 in revenues in the 12th month.
D) Write a book (or set of books) that has more than 5000 paying readers
E) Create a blog that has over 100,000 unique monthly readers. Note: you don’t have to be the only writer on that blog.
F) Take 50 or more courses on Coursera. With me.
G) Intern with someone who is among the best in the world at what they do.
H) Organize at least 20 meetups of twenty people or more around a specific topic.
I) Run for political office and get at least 30% of the vote in a primary.
J) Have 50 people write to me explaining, in detail, how you saved their lives.
www.jamesaltucher.com
I, myself, am working on this list for my own benefit, partly because I have already done some of it and partly because I want to try more.
A) Youtube video...maybe not, but who knows.
B) Ashtanga - A definite possibility
C) business - SUCCESS!
D) book - in the process
E) blog - in progress
F) Coursera - signing up. Not with James.
G) intern - eh...I won't rule it out.
H) organize a group - Not sure about this one, either.
I) Definitely will not be running for office.
J) won't happen either.
But still, I like the gist of his list and the challenge he presents. I just recently went back to yoga. I used to be really 'into' yoga. I practiced rigorously and became a certified yoga instructor and taught some classes. I attended workshops and practiced on my own. Then I sort of stopped. Post-BMT, I just recently started Pure Barre again and today was my first yoga class. I decided to return to my roots, where it all began, and made the trek down to Midtown Yoga. My mom went with me and when I picked her up, we looked at each other and agreed that we never thought we'd be doing this again. Our first yoga class was together, when I was a Sophomore in high school. We would go to Midtown Yoga together often until I started taking harder and harder classes and we started going more often separately. It has been a long time since we went to a class together. Driving down, we chatted the whole way. It's funny, my dad pointed out, that after 6 months together we still have stuff to talk about. We walked into the studio and remembered why we used to drive all the way to midtown for yoga. It's peaceful. There's just something about it. We had a great class with a gentle instructor. After, we drove through the Love Shack for some juice and java. We talked about the class and I realized how much I had needed yoga back in my life. I am very competitive with myself when it comes to working out. It probably stems from my days as a dancer, and I was no different in yoga, despite the whole POINT of yoga to achieve inner peace. I tackled yoga like a sport, like a dancer tackles ballet. I pushed myself harder and harder, advancing to the most advanced classes. And while I think the athletic side of yoga is great too, for other benefits, I have also found that I need the 'easier' classes for my mental wellbeing. I need the stretches and breathing to find my peace of mind.
On another note, I feel like I have cancer hanging over me. Like it is an inevitable part of my future, specifically because of my suppressed immune system. It makes my heart race daily, like there's a ticking clock running alongside of me. For those of you scared of cancer or diagnosed with cancer, I recommend another blog: chrisbeatcancer.com. Chris is from Memphis, lives in Midtown, and (you guessed it) beat cancer with food and exercise. He's got an amazing story and shares other people's equally amazing recoveries. He does a ton of research on the subject and while I did not have the option of no chemo and no transplant if I wanted to survive, I find his blog inspiring. It helps me feel like I have some control in minimizing my already inflated chances of getting cancer, and I'm a control freak at heart.
I need to go back to yoga.
THE ULTIMATE COLLEGE CHALLENGE TO FOOL MY KIDS INTO NOT GOING TO COLLEGE
In his post, he explains his belief that since everyone has a college degree, it's pretty much worthless in the workforce now and those four years could be better spent by really learning something or advancing in the workforce. He told his kids to do one of the following things if they wanted him to pay for college. They could try many and fail at them, but try they must, gaining experience and knowledge above and beyond that which they could've obtained during their college years.
A) Make a youtube video (or channel) that has five million real views.
B ) Get past the second series of Ashtanga Yoga. (at least part of this has to occur in India).
C) Make a business that has over $50,000 in revenues in the 12th month.
D) Write a book (or set of books) that has more than 5000 paying readers
E) Create a blog that has over 100,000 unique monthly readers. Note: you don’t have to be the only writer on that blog.
F) Take 50 or more courses on Coursera. With me.
G) Intern with someone who is among the best in the world at what they do.
H) Organize at least 20 meetups of twenty people or more around a specific topic.
I) Run for political office and get at least 30% of the vote in a primary.
J) Have 50 people write to me explaining, in detail, how you saved their lives.
www.jamesaltucher.com
I, myself, am working on this list for my own benefit, partly because I have already done some of it and partly because I want to try more.
A) Youtube video...maybe not, but who knows.
B) Ashtanga - A definite possibility
C) business - SUCCESS!
D) book - in the process
E) blog - in progress
F) Coursera - signing up. Not with James.
G) intern - eh...I won't rule it out.
H) organize a group - Not sure about this one, either.
I) Definitely will not be running for office.
J) won't happen either.
But still, I like the gist of his list and the challenge he presents. I just recently went back to yoga. I used to be really 'into' yoga. I practiced rigorously and became a certified yoga instructor and taught some classes. I attended workshops and practiced on my own. Then I sort of stopped. Post-BMT, I just recently started Pure Barre again and today was my first yoga class. I decided to return to my roots, where it all began, and made the trek down to Midtown Yoga. My mom went with me and when I picked her up, we looked at each other and agreed that we never thought we'd be doing this again. Our first yoga class was together, when I was a Sophomore in high school. We would go to Midtown Yoga together often until I started taking harder and harder classes and we started going more often separately. It has been a long time since we went to a class together. Driving down, we chatted the whole way. It's funny, my dad pointed out, that after 6 months together we still have stuff to talk about. We walked into the studio and remembered why we used to drive all the way to midtown for yoga. It's peaceful. There's just something about it. We had a great class with a gentle instructor. After, we drove through the Love Shack for some juice and java. We talked about the class and I realized how much I had needed yoga back in my life. I am very competitive with myself when it comes to working out. It probably stems from my days as a dancer, and I was no different in yoga, despite the whole POINT of yoga to achieve inner peace. I tackled yoga like a sport, like a dancer tackles ballet. I pushed myself harder and harder, advancing to the most advanced classes. And while I think the athletic side of yoga is great too, for other benefits, I have also found that I need the 'easier' classes for my mental wellbeing. I need the stretches and breathing to find my peace of mind.
On another note, I feel like I have cancer hanging over me. Like it is an inevitable part of my future, specifically because of my suppressed immune system. It makes my heart race daily, like there's a ticking clock running alongside of me. For those of you scared of cancer or diagnosed with cancer, I recommend another blog: chrisbeatcancer.com. Chris is from Memphis, lives in Midtown, and (you guessed it) beat cancer with food and exercise. He's got an amazing story and shares other people's equally amazing recoveries. He does a ton of research on the subject and while I did not have the option of no chemo and no transplant if I wanted to survive, I find his blog inspiring. It helps me feel like I have some control in minimizing my already inflated chances of getting cancer, and I'm a control freak at heart.
I need to go back to yoga.
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Autumn
This is my favorite time of year. I love Autumn. I love the crispness in the air, the leaves changing colors and falling off the trees, Thanksgiving, and my all-time fave, Halloween. It's a little weird for me this year though. This time last year is when I first got sick. I was feeling good, as good as I feel now, and then BOOM, sick. Right after my birthday in mid-October. Everything reminds me of it right now. We went to Lowe's today and I remember going to Lowe's right before it happened. I remember laughing at Asher's excitement at all of the Halloween and Christmas decorations. I remember looking forward to the holidays and the chilly air. I've got a lot of deja vu going on. Vocalizing it means it won't happen, right?
My 3 year old teenager
How did we end up with a 3 year old teenager? I tried to evoke excitement for an upcoming, fun-filled event, to which Asher's response to, "Doesn't that sound fun?" involved a sullenly expressed, "Not really, Mom." Followed by the eye-roll. Okay, not a full-fledged roll, but definitely an eye-shift to the side, emphasizing how unfun it sounded. He recently said, "Whatever." Refuses to discuss his day at school. Retrieving information about his day is like pulling teeth. Although, if he's really happy or excited, he'll pop. It's like he can't contain his excitement and it comes bubbling out in the form a loudly yelled, "POP!" I love those pops. I doubt he'll do that as a teenager.
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Reading and Writing
You know that feeling you get after you've finished a really great book? Like you've been changed somehow? That's what I'm feeling right now. I just finished The Time Between by Karen White. Wow, what a great book. I found myself marveling throughout the novel at the author's ability to create such a touching and powerful story, with characters complex and human. So many times while reading I wondered how she came up with that. As many of you know, I am writing my own fiction-based novel. I am at 10,000 words now (a novel is typically around 60,000). I said I would write every day, no matter if I felt like it or not, but I haven't. Between trips, occasions, and life, I've found it hard to find time to write and harder still when I sit down to try. I pretty much have to reread the story, which takes some time, to remember where I am and what's happened. However, despite the hiccups in my trajectory, I will soldier on. I still love writing it and feel immense pleasure when I take up my keyboard to delve back in. Today, though, I had to finish White's book. I couldn't put it down. I thought at one point, how could I write a book after reading one from such an accomplished author. I've had this discussion before. If there is no hope of writing like JK Rowling, why bother? Let the masters make their masterpieces. While I have nowhere near the ability of these and many great authors, the process of creating something entirely my own from nothing is truly invigorating.
Monday, September 9, 2013
Moderation
Never one to diet, my grandmother has always lived and eaten according to moderation. My brother-in-law recently sent me an article on debunking so-called "clean" eating. Basically, the article explained that food is food, there is no such thing as clean food, and while some foods are better for you than others, any and all in moderation is fine. As my mother-in-law says, the hard part of moderation is moderation. I completely agree. While I am currently not one to really shun any food group, I have been known in the past to be pretty strict about my nutrition and my son's. These days, I sing a little different tune, aiming more for moderation, with a sticky side of sweet binging that may need some tweaking. My husband, who could not believe I didn't eat meat when he met me and made fun of me for years for my healthy ways, will now not touch red meat (after watching Forks Over Knives) and insists on sending Asher something green or veggie every day for lunch regardless of whether or not he will actually eat said green. Funny how things change.
August's End
Nothing feels quite so good as toes in the sand, salt in the air, and the surf sounds rushing in with the wind. I couldn't quite believe we were in Seaside after this crazy year. It had been ten years since I had last seen Seaside, and while there were some obvious changes (new restaurants and shops and awesome food trucks), much of what I remembered was the same. The houses were quaint and colorful, the tourists were happy, and there was a lot of ice cream to be eaten. We traveled by bicycles, with Asher in a caboose, and lived in our make-believe bubble for Labor Day Weekend. It was a perfect beach trip. Asher and Lawson spent all day playing in the sand, crashing in the afternoon, and every evening was spent back on the beach, nights topped off with ice cream. After a brief visit to St. Louis, where I got to reconnect with two dear friends and convince my doctor that I didn't need any more IVIG (woohoo!), this end to August was very sweet.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)