the daydream fund challenge thread

ukmaggie45

lostinrates wrote: »

How are you feeling maggie?

Thanks for asking LiR. Somewhat mixed! Had a really rotton couple of weeks, just felt totally out of sorts, basically just played on computer and watched TV and did sweet FA. Last couple of days beginning to feel more like a human being again though. :j Managed to get out and take off the majority of frost damaged flowers from the camellia. Then yesterday went out and cut off all of the buds that were just breaking open so we have 3 vases full of camellia flowers sitting in the kitchen. (we had heavy frost forecast, it was still -3 when I woke up at 6am this morning so they'd only have rotted on the bush like the last lot) Will sort out an arrangement in a jamjar and take it to my Counsellor this evening.

Can't remember if I mentioned or not, but have very high cholesterol so got sent to see dietician a couple of weeks ago. Will have to change diet drastically, but even so it won't be enough to bring levels down to normal... Practise nurse and doc want me to go on statins, but I'm not sure they're a good thing. Looking at their side effects it's all stuff I've got already (fatigue, leg pain, pins and needles, etc) so not sure I want any more of any of that! Dietitian wants me to cut down salt levels drastically too. Now that I'm really not too sure about. I've been a saltaholic since I was a child, and suspect it's been a matter of self medication, as always had low blood pressure when measured, and even now it's normal. Plus a lot of ME/CFS patients have probs with low blood pressure and are actually told to eat more salt. Otherwise they can't even sit up without feeling dizzy and faint etc.

Also got the give up smoking lecture too. I've cut down from over 40 a day to around 10 a day, but that doesn't count for anything. :mad: Been hard enough to get it down that much, so am resting on my laurels at present and just trying to maintain the status quo and not backslide into smoking more. Anyway off to hang out the back door wrapped in coat and blankets for my first cig of the day now! Prolly have to chase the squirrel of the peanuts too! :mad:

Rummer

Maggie, glad to hear that you are beginning to feel better. As for your diet, you need to just take it one step at a time by cutting down the things they have mentioned slowly instead of dropping everything at once. Mind you I have a cheek to talk! I have been getting the weight lecture for the last couple of years and I am still plump

Dave you are wonderful

lostinrates

Maggie, although it sounds odd, i th ink the cold weather might be unusually helpful...after such a weird weather year to get a proper season when we are meant to get it i think makes our. British bodies feel in routine. The spring then will feel superb hopefully.

I Am one of those odd people who doesn't eat enought salt. I have to eat more every now and then. I get terrile cramps....my neurological condition makes the nerves fire and tell the muscles they are meant to do somehting, this leads to cramp a lot.

Rummer

lostinrates wrote: »

I Am one of those odd people who doesn't eat enought salt. I have to eat more every now and then. I get terrile cramps....my neurological condition makes the nerves fire and tell the muscles they are meant to do somehting, this leads to cramp a lot.

I only add salt to chips and even at that a very light sprinkle, I am just not a fan of the taste.

rozeepozee

Hi All! No, you don't smell, Alf

Maggie, giving up smoking and radically changing your diet sounds like a huge shift in behaviour. Behaviour change is really difficult, even without a physical addiction thrown in to make things trickier. I should know I used to counsel clients for an alcohol management organisation. Something you might consider helpful is keeping a diary of when you eat/smoke and take a note of your thoughts and feelings at the time. This can give you a better awareness of your motivation for drinking or smoking and perhaps help you to identify alternative ways to manage your behaviour. Just a thought. Sorry if I'm stating the obvious. I'm sure if you've been trying to stop, you've been given loads of advice and you've probably tried most things.

Do you know about the concept of the cycle of change? I've just googled this article on it, it's not to do with smoking or food, but the concept is tranferable to any behaviour change issue. Might help you understand whereabouts you are in the process http://localenterprise.wordpress.com/2008/06/25/cycle-of-change-prochaska-and-diclemente-and-enterprise/

We are having a big wobble about the refurb. Went to see the architect yesterday and he's told us - for the first time - we can't have dormers on the roof because of the angle being too shallow. This is leading to a major rethink... A work in progress currently...

lostinrates

Rozee..

All i can say is you will have wobbles, and things you want that it doesn't make sense to have, I am learning this too. Ultimately you will end up with a lovely home, that everyone will love.


Not sure where in wales you are, the domestic fowl trust in evesham is a nice day out for looking at birds....you don't get too personal with them, but you get to see lots of breeds. I have wante dcall ducks ever since going there...

ukmaggie45

rozeepozee wrote: »

Do you know about the concept of the cycle of change? I've just googled this article on it, it's not to do with smoking or food, but the concept is tranferable to any behaviour change issue. Might help you understand whereabouts you are in the process http://localenterprise.wordpress.com/2008/06/25/cycle-of-change-prochaska-and-diclemente-and-enterprise/

Thanks Rozee, dietitian showed me that, but her printer was broken so she couldn't print it off. Bit of a mix between 2, 3 and 4 at the mo! Tried my first benecol drink yesterday, it is truly disgusting stuff, and FAR TOO SWEET! REally repulsive. Read the box today and now see am supposed to have it with a main meal. Oh well, onwards and upwards! After all medicine is supposed to taste orrible isn't it!

So far we're trying to stick more to the Mediterranean diet, but still having a sunday roast. But OH is taking more care to remove all fat from juices before making gravy. I so love pork esp the crackling, but that's deffo out! Maybe once a year? Dietitian suggests I should try the Portfolio Diet, which is something we might aim at eventually, but it's a big change to make. One prob I've already had is with that you're supposed to eat 30gms almonds every day... I quite like almonds, so didn't think it would be a problem, but found that they act much the same as peanuts and give me really upset guts. Urk. Will have to try spreading them out over the day and mixing them with other food rather than just snacking on them I guess.

Have found a really nice sounding smoothie made from raspberries and soy ice cream, so will be trying that if our raspberries survive the birds this year! They're down the end of the garden now rather than on the patio. May have to try and make a fruit tunnel for them. Oh, the smoothie also has almond milk in it too, so that'll help with the almond intake! :j

choille

Maggie - sorry you have all this on at the moment. I stopped the fags almost two years ago& actually found it easier than cutting down/staying cut down. I never thought I could do it as it's been quite a heavy smoker for over thirty years. You could ask to see a cessation nurse if you are ready to stop as they work out the type of smoker you are & what would be the best method to help you to stop. If that's what you wish.

You can get a healthy salt alternative - my Grandad was a salt addict & he got some & it suited him - so it must of been good. Know what you mean about the statins - they seem to be getting everyone on them at the mo' so I hear.

You may have a slight allergy to nuts that isn't uncommon & maybe you just can't tolerate them much.
Hope you feel better soon & take care.

Raining today, but milder than it's been, yet the grounds still brick over at the veg garden so that's thwarted me.

Rummer

choille wrote: »

Raining today, but milder than it's been, yet the grounds still brick over at the veg garden so that's thwarted me.

We are the same here, a couple of inches under the top of the soil it is solid :eek: Hoping it is melted at the weekend as I am really keen to get out in the garden as often as possible.

One huge problem though is that our garden bins and compost bins are fit to bursting and are not due to be collected for another month! I'm thinking I may just have to create a huge weed pile and fill the bins again once they have been emptied. So frustrating that they empty them so infrequently :mad:

Davesnave

Rummer wrote: »

Dave you are wonderful

Just wondering if I am daft rather than the other. Post box wouldn't be emptied till this a.m. and we had about -6C last night, so I hope tom & chilli seeds were OK!:o:o

PS. I have just planted my fast tomato seeds and they're next to the Aga.