Choose You Blog
Coping mechanisms
I joke about my Holiday Cocktail — I’m a mixologist at heart, have been since childhood, and enjoy mixing new flavors together — as my Coping Mechanism. December is a pressure cooker month for me. A lot of people misunderstand and think I mean the alcohol is a coping mechanism, and, I fear, picture me boozey day in and day out. No, it’s the mixing. When I say Holiday Cocktail, I mean a lot of different things. It might be a marinade as much as anything else. I’m just as likely to be happy mixing things, and handing them off to others.
Finding flavors that blend together in a complementary way soothes me and makes me happy. It makes me happy in the same way singing might for someone who has a nice voice, or drawing might for someone with an artistic hand. I think, at a time, when so much seems to be in conflict — schedules, competing priorities, etc. — finding things that blend together with beautiful, harmonic smell and taste brings a sense of order and rightness to my world. See? Some things do go together nicely. Try this pomegranate lemonade.
I did the same thing as a child.
It’s one reason my children, future chemists, are lucky: I understand. I understand why my daughter was driven to drop the Kool-Aid tablet in the jello at lunch one day. She wanted to see what would happen. She is building her ability to mix and blend. Try this honey vanilla Greek yogurt with pineapple and granola.
It’s one reason my sister is lucky: while she uses her blending and mixing to create scrumptious entrees, I happily stand at the bar mixing cocktails. Here, try this Moscato d’Asti with pear infusion and rosemary. It goes nicely with the fruit.
Blending is soothing. It is the fractal in chaos.
I like flower arranging too, for the same reason. I love walking through hobby stores, fingering silk blossoms, plucking ones for height, texture, color, filler, shape…and pulling them together in a pleasing way in a vase that complements their purpose. In my bedroom sits my newest arrangement, happy golds and oranges, tall and full, with one exotic stalk of dancing lady orchids. Each time I see it I think: I made that, and that is good. I feel a nearly Biblical sense of faith in the universe.
Blending flowers or flavors can be a solitary task, or a shared one. In times of stress, I am likely to blend by myself. But, once the balance is right, and I have something pleasing, I am likely to share it. In other words, once my inner rift is healed, I am ready to be back in company again.
I create. I create things that are pleasing to the eye, nose, and tongue. That is how I cope.
How do you cope, with the daily pressures, or extraordinary ones?
As I recall, the big eating thing in the 70s was TV Dinners (packaged in Real Tin back then). Instead of taking the name as a suggestion, we went full tilt into accepting it as an instruction: you ate TV Dinners on TV Trays in front of the TV. They didn’t cook any faster than regular food (you still had to cook them in the oven for half an hour, no microwaves yet!) but we didn’t have the blessing of overstocked convenience food laden grocery stores back then. If you wanted carrots, you peeled and cut them. If you wanted potatoes, you baked them. But TV Dinners, you just popped it in the oven and went about your business.
Since my mother cooked everything to death, twice, before serving it, we thought TV Dinners were gourmet. The meat, it was soft and chewable! The vegetables, they had color and some texture. And always, it included a brownie or cherry tart. Food that was edible, with flavor, that you got to eat on tray while watching a TV show…plus dessert! I can’t tell you how far from our normal this was.
At some point in my early childhood, you see, my mother discovered health food stores and the philosophy behind them. My sister and I were the early guinea pigs of the health food industry and you can thank us for its vast improvement over time. While other children got candy at Halloween and chocolate chip cookies, we got carob chips. CAROB CHIPS. This was our treat. To this day I can taste the nasty oily carob flavor. I’m wincing writing this, actually. She told us that orange sections were those gel orange slice candy we loved (but were banned from). And she told us that mixing peanut butter and honey was better than cake.
Probably the worst thing you can do is try to fool yourself, unless it is trying to fool your own kids. No way were we gullible enough to buy what my mother was selling. What evolved was an uncomfortable sense of distrust. To this day, my sister and I sniff suspiciously at any food my mother serves that we don’t personally witness her opening from restaurant packaging. Occasionally she’ll try to defend herself but my sister and I will retort with three words that end the debate: pink tomato soup.
That was the incident with the vanilla meal replacement powder added in to tomato soup. Suffice it to say, even my mother admitted that was inedible. It took my fifteen years before I could even try eating tomato soup again.
When my mother found the vitamin business, she took that, as with the TV dinners, as an instruction versus a suggestion. Therefore she evolved the following philosophies:
1. If a little is good, a lot is better.
2. If it includes a serving suggestion on the back, you better take it, all of it, every day. And see number one rule: which advocates doubling and even tripling doses.
In the height of her service to the vitamin company, my sister and I were choking down about 30 vitamins a day, in adult helpings, with daily protein (and who knows what else) mixed “shakes.” My sister and I were taking vitamin supplements we probably didn’t even really need in doses that were way too much for our bodies. There were the odd stomach complaints, the strange symptoms, and possibly worst of all, the time my sister turned orange — no really, real orange — because my mother had so overdosed her with beta-carotene (the latest issuance from the vitamin company).
With time, people have gotten savvier about vitamins, herbs and supplements — which ones they personally need, which ones they ought to avoid, which ones interact with medications, proper doses and so forth. Still, though, new studies come out, headlines shout provocatively, and we find ourselves wondering if something is a new miracle drug/vitamin/herb.
Can Vitamin B protect me from cancer?
Can Calcium supplements prevent breast cancer?
In a word? Doubtful.
Americans consume large quantities of vitamins and multivitamin and mineral supplements with uncertain proof of efficacy.
I don’t advocate either taking or not taking vitamins or supplements, but I do advise taking them with care, and ensuring that your doctor is aware of every supplement you take. Also, do your research – ACS has a really handy guide to vitamins, minerals, and herbs that explain with detail about each.
You do want to Choose Health when you Choose You, but make sure you know what it is exactly that you are choosing…for you.
Yes I get Google alerts about anything related to health — here’s some headlines recently that really caught my attention:
HHS Announces $750 Million Investment in Prevention
Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced a $750 million investment in prevention and public health, funded through the Prevention and Public Health Fund created by the new health care law. Building on $500 million in investments last year, these new dollars will help prevent tobacco use, obesity, heart disease, stroke, and cancer; increase immunizations; and empower individuals and communities with tools and resources for local prevention and health initiatives.
Hello! It looks like the US Government decided to Choose Us!
A study indicates that people with a family history of alcoholism also have a higher risk of obesity.
All right, what’s this even mean? I always read “study says…” and it’s like “there They go again…” so I had to check this out more closely. In short, the lead researcher looked at family history of addiction and determined that this group had a large percentage of people with BMIs over 30. That’s not hugely compelling to me. You should read it a bit and see what you think, but I suspect mass media will run with the provocative angle, and it’s important to analyze the study first — and in fact, it was a survey, not a study, which means it did not use the same scientific process used in a study. That explains why I didn’t find explanation of controls. Wow your friends with your knowledge on this one. But, of course, it’s important to keep that BMI in the healthy range to prevent many diseases.
The latest and most accurate estimate of how many Americans get sick from the food they eat is pretty high. The data are from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Researcher Elaine Scallan, who’s now at the University of Colorado Denver, worked on the project while she was at CDC:
This really interested me because my doctor once told me that stomach “flu” is very rare, and usually, when people have that type of sickness, it’s from food versus a virus. So I had to check this out. Apparently CDC data proves my doctor right:
“Our study estimates that there are about 48 million foodborne illnesses each year in the United States. These foodborne illnesses result in about 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths.’’ (13 seconds)
Scallan says people can help to prevent disease at home by separating raw meats from produce, cooking meat and poultry to the right inside temperatures, and promptly chilling leftovers.
The studies are in CDC’s journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.”
Be careful with that food preparation!
New National Vaccine Plan (PDF)
HHS unveiled the 2010 National Vaccine Plan, the nation’s 10-year strategy to ensure that all Americans can access the preventive benefits of vaccines. The plan offers innovative approaches to improve delivery of existing vaccines and to spur development of new products to prevent infectious disease.
I scanned the PDF of the new plan. The plan centers around creating new and improve and safer vaccines, and supporting education about vaccine decision-making, which I took as a direct response to the increasing number of families opting out of vaccinations. They also want to make sure we have an adequate stock, which I expect is a response to the recent swine flu scare. It has a global goal, too. I’d scan through it, and talk to my doctor to ensure you and your family are all set.
Valentine’s Day.
You either love it or hate it. There are articles and articles about managing it as a couple, as a single, as a __________ (insert label here).
I think it’s great to consider Valentine’s Day as a thoughtful moment to think of yourself as part of a greater whole, whether it’s as a lover, spouse, partner, parent, friend, relative, etc. Or all of the above. But Cupid kind of co-opted the holiday so a lot of people have a sort of negative reaction to it. It’s a Hallmark holiday, meaningless. I don’t have somebody and this day is just a reminder. It’s one more day I have to do something great in an already too busy life. It’s just a tempatation day while I try to stay healthy.
But remember how fun Valentine’s Day parties were when you were a kid? You’d make little heart-themed and friendship-themed cards for al your classroom buddies and the most exciting moment was opening your box to see these little well-wishes from your friends.
I kind of want that back. Don’t you?
That lovely looking forward to it excitement, great feeling of giving warm fuzzies to people you care about.
So I decided I needed to get outside the box, find a new way to celebrate this day, and that’s how I figured out that the grown-up version of heart-themed cards is…donating to an organization or person in need.
What better thing to do on the day of love than give a little love to the world?
I took the money I would have spent going out to eat, and donated it to a worthy charity. [Yeah if you guessed ACS as my charity, you guessed right. 
] You don’t have to fit into any bucket at all to do this, except the caring bucket. Whether it’s $5 or more, every penny helps, and I know is greatly appreciated. Doing good feels good, and the Valentine I got back came as an email in my Inbox and it thanked me for my donation. Instead of a I <3 You signature, it told me how my money would help research to fight back against cancer. Sure, I plan to have a nice meal tonight, with chocolate covered strawberries (see above!), but I think the best part of the day will be knowing I showed some love to a worthy cause, and, okay, also, the walk I plan on taking with my husband.
The only way this day can be meaningless and a non-event is if I let it be. I can choose to infuse it with meaning, and healthy choices, so I will. Join me?
Just case you want some more ideas…
Eating Right
I’d never advocate forgoing chocolate, so this Valentine’s I chose strawberries dipped in dark chocolate for our treat. They had all sizes, so I went with just two each of the big strawberries. In fact, here’s the menu:
Appetizer: fresh cut vegetables
Main: Cuban black bean soup with whole wheat tortilla rolls
Dessert: Dark chocolate dipped strawberries, with Moscato Spumante (see photo to the left — I already have the table set up, ready to go — yes, that’s my real table!)
Getting active
After dinner and treats, we’re going to stroll around our backyard (kids will be asleep) and talk. Honestly? I might be looking most forward to this. It’s this constantly busy life, with little time to just chat.
Health checks
We’ve both been really good about our diet and exercise, and today we’re both doing fitness body tests to check our health. It’s romantic, truly! I know, lol, how romantic: a health check. But seriously, what better way to let those who care about you know you care about being around as long as you can by being as healthy as you can?
My very favorite Valentine’s sentiment I’ve seen today in Twitter came from my friend Kim who said she bought herself a robe, wrapped it, and will give it to herself tonight. I think that is so awesome. Best give ever: caring about yourself.
Here’s some other great sources for good ideas about having a healthy Valentine’s Day!
American Cancer Society: Have a healthier Valentine’s Day!
CDC: Valentine’s Day Tips
Food Courting from Livestrong (these are videos with amaaaaaaazing recipes that are healthy versions of that YUM comfort food that always makes your mouth water and your convictions turn to mush in the food court)
And–I LOVE this–don’t forget February is heart health month (wear red!) and this about.com article has these really cool and unique romantic yet healthy gift ideas. I think if someone doesn’t buy it for you you should seriously consider treating yourself! If you’re buying for someone else, be ever so much bigger than a bouquet of flowers with these great ideas, many of which are gifts that keep on giving! In good ways!
Treat yourself, treat a friend, treat a loved one…however you want to celebrate!
Happy Valentine’s Day — what are your plans, tips, and ideas?
Do you ever feel as if you are the bottom 40% at something? Lately, I’ve had that feeling about healthy choices — right now it seems as if other people are just better at this than I am, that I’m sort of the remedial healthy choice person who has to work ever so very hard at it.
Why is it so hard for some of us to make these healthy choices: eat right, exercise, stop smoking, etc? Do we have bad habits to break or is there more at play here?
When it comes to decision-making and healthy choices, researcher Emily Falk, director of the Communication Neuroscience Laboratory at the University of Michigan, thinks our brain has a lot more to do with it than we think.
She conducted a study that tested how well ads and information about quitting smoking resonated with people who were trying to quit smoking.
After each ad, subjects in the study “rated how it affected their intention to quit, whether it increased their confidence about quitting, and how much they related to the message,” researchers explained.
Those who showed activity in the medial prefrontal cortex during the ads were “significantly linked to reductions in smoking behavior” in the month that followed, regardless of how the people said they were affected by the ad.
“What is exciting is that by knowing what is going on in someone’s brain during the ads, we can do twice as well at predicting their future behavior, compared to if we only knew their self-reported estimate of how successful they would be or their intention to quit,” said lead author Emily Falk.
“It seems that our brain activity may provide information that introspection does not,” added Falk.
So whether we know it or not, certain messages are resonating with us, and our brain shows it. I’m sure our behavior does too.
The healthy food choices, Choose You Eat Right (and other commitments), and Weight Watchers all resonate with me, and I usually stick to it on a daily basis. But in the end, on some occasions, nothing speaks to me like that Papaya Cream I had for dessert at the Brazilian Steakhouse. In the end, though, I suppose it’s all in it being an exception rather than a rule.
I knwo though, that my choices don’t work for everyone…and now research bears not just that, but that certain messages are more effective.
What messages work for you? What program resonates with you?
Choose You is a movement created by the American Cancer Society that encourages women to put their own health first in the fight against cancer. Choose You challenges women to make healthier choices, and supports them in their commitment to eat right, get active, quit smoking and get regular health checks. Have you signed up?
When I walk, I tend to walk briskly. I’m usually in a hurry, but combine that with long legs and I frequently outpace people. Until today, I thought that made me a Bad Walking Friend, but apprently I should take heart, according to Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat:
Want an idea of how long you’ll live? Check how fast you walk. Researchers who analyzed data in nine studies involving close to 35,000 people ages 65 and older say those whose usual walking pace was faster tended to live longer.
At the University of Pittsburgh, Stephanie Studenski:
“The reason that there’s a relationship between walking speed and longevity is because your walking speed is a very simple reflection of how well many of your body systems are doing.’’ (11 seconds)
The usual recommendation for health is that people should be active by, for instance, doing at least 30 minutes of brisk walking on most if not all days of the week.
The study in the Journal of the American Medical Association was supported by the National Institutes of Health.
So…wait…my naturally brisk pace indicates health or I preserve health by incorporating brisk walking into my daily schedule…or both?
I looked up Stephanie A. Studenski:
Stephanie A. Studenski, MD, MPH, Professor of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, serves as Co-Leader of the Cancer and Aging Program. She is one of the nation’s foremost authorities on mobility and function in the elderly. Dr. Studenski is widely known for developing evaluations and treatments for elderly patients who may have difficulties with mobility or function, and her expertise in geriatrics is a vital component of the program. Dr. Studenski received her nursing and medical degrees from the University of Kansas, and her MPH from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her post-doctoral training included fellowships in the Division of Rheumatic and Genetic Diseases and Geriatrics at Duke University Medical Center. Before coming to Pitt, Studenski spent a decade as Professor of Medicine and Director of the Center on Aging at the University of Kansas Medical Center.
Interesting! An entire field dedicated to cancer and aging as well as elderly mobility. However, it probably means that how briskly I walk isn’t as closely tied to predictor of lifespan. Or is it?
As it happens, per her research, Studenski found the survival differences were most notable in ages 75 and up. It’s an intriguing point to consider, and if you have a big mobility challenge, maybe it’s worth checking with a physician. According to a synposis in WebMD:
Walking speed can be an important sign of someone’s overall health. A slow walking speed may be due to multiple causes including heart, lung, or nervous system problems, or even joint pain. Several studies have suggested that a person with a walking speed slower than 0.6 meters per second (less than 2 feet per second) may be at increased risk for poor health and function.
WebMD has a really great overview of the research and findings regarding walking pace and lifespan. In short:
- if you maintain a daily habit of brisk walking, which means 1 meter per second or faster, you have a better chance of a longer, healthier life
- calculating life expectancy based on walking speed (in combination with age and sex) was as accurate as other methods of prediction
- walking speed was a valuable insight into overall health
- knowing this information can help doctors create a more targeted, more personalized health care plan for patients
If you are under 75, brisk walking is a one of those out of the gym, accessible, affordable activities you can use to keep necessary activity in your every day. If you’re over 75, it can be the same, and moreover, can potentially help you and your doctor keep an eye on your overall health.
Choose You is dedicated to helping you Get Active! Even just 30 minutes (though 45 to 65 is even better …) of moderate physical exercise five days a week can reduce your risk of cancer, heart disease, even diabetes. Pledge to Get Active now if you haven’t already! Choose You will provide tips, suggestions, support and information!
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