Cherish Your Friends; They are Precious Commodities

I've been wanting to write an article about how important it is to be there for your friends. In this time of transition, my friends have been invaluable to me, and I have realized how much I appreciate those who have reached out to me, and been there. So much so that I have noticed when my friends have really needed me in return. We are all dealing with so much in our lives; kids, parents, college, marriages, death. Need I go on. I think you get the message. The important thing is that we must continue to be there for each other, for support when that tragedy comes along, whether it be the death of a spouse, the loss of a relationship, or the loss of a job. I know it's hard to compare one to the other, but for the person going thru the so-called tragedy, or the actual  tragedy, the sense of loss is very much the same. Being there and showing your support can be as little as just a phone call or a text, or as big as taking the time to just be with that person for a while so they don't have to be alone, and listen to whatever they want to talk about even if you've heard it over and over again. Everyone heals and deals in their own way, and on their own time schedule. Personally, I have had to realize that everyone is busy with their own stuff, and when they find the time to respond they will. Because I have so much free time these days, I take for granted that just because I call or text doesn't mean that the receiver can respond immediately, even though that's what I want. That's what we all want; INSTANT GRATIFICATION. Eventually they do respond, and if they don't and the message was really important, just send it again, as it may have gotten lost or forgotten, depending on what is going on at the moment with the other party. Remember, EVERYONE IS BUSY with something, and it's not all about you.

Part of being there for your friends is making sure they are taking care of themselves by eating right and exercising. I know some of my friends might think to themselves; "oh no here she goes again, preaching about food and exercise". Well, that's my thing. It's hard to keep my mouth shut when I see that my friends are not eating enough because they got busy, or just didn't feel hungry. We need to remember that in order to feel hungry, you must eat. Eating is what makes the body work and gets that metabolism moving. I know when I started writing about changing my eating habits I mentioned that I had to get used to eating every couple of hours even though I wasn't hungry. It took about two weeks but once my body got used to eating every couple of hours, I was quickly reminded by my stomach, it was time to eat. Try and keep snacks in your car such as nuts, and water, and grab a piece of fruit to take with you when you are leaving the house. You never know when you will need it because you got to BUSY, and forgot to eat. It's happened to me as well when I get caught up in whatever I am doing and before you know it 4-5 hours have gone by and you haven't eaten anything. Normally my stomach will tell me, and I know that is the natural progression for most of us, but if you jump start  your body with a good, healthy breakfast in the morning, and keep up with those snacks between lunch and dinner, you will feel so much better. Your body will thank you and you will want to eat. Also try and keep up with your exercise, by walking at least 30 minutes a day, and getting that heavier cardio workout a couple of times a week, to keep your heart healthy. I remember a phrase from a movie, " exercise produces endorphins, and endorphins make you happy". Just another reason to exercise when you are down in the dumps. I can't tell you how many times I was down and out and didn't want to go to the gym for any reason. I try to remember how good it felt at the end of those nights when I was coming home and thinking to myself how glad I was that I made myself go, and how much better I felt because I played some great racquetball and got to hang out with my friends at the Y. Most of the time I forgot why I was down in the first place. I would like to also stress how important it is to eat something before and after your workouts, to have fuel to burn, and replenish when you're done. Feeling light headed is a sign you have not eaten enough, and avoiding food due to a workout is not the healthy way to go, especially in the heat. One more tip is to always drink water throughout the day, to keep yourself hydrated, and once again, make that body work.

So enough healthy tips for one day. The point once again is that we all need to take care of each other and be there for one another in our times of need and just because. Be honest with each other, but try to realize when to back off due to timing, and the severity of the situation. Put yourself in your friends position and try and realize what they are feeling before you react strongly, or negatively. I have had most of my friends for a very long time and have come to value them so much more thru the years. Friends are precious commodities, not to be taken advantage of, or taken for granted. I dedicate this article to all of my friends, and you know who you are. I love you all very much!!

Living and Loving My Friends

Those Raging Hormones (part 2)

What I do know is that I have never gone to the doctor so much in my life but I feel that my needs are truly being addressed. With my gynecologist I took the first set of hormones for 6 months because I was told that I needed to get them in my system for at least 90 days. It took me at least 6 months to get rid of them, if not longer.  Now when I have a problem with any new doses of hormones I am told to stop them immediately as they should not be making me feel bad which is also indicating that the dosage is not correct and needs to be adjusted. The differences in approaches between the two doctors is unbelievable. This new doctor is not a gynecologist so I was advised to keep my original GYN for that purpose or I would have to find a new one. I thought it was weird that my GYN was not taking care of my hormones, and that the doctor who was taking care of my hormones was not my GYN. I noticed the next time I went to my GYN that on their questionaire they ask if you are under another doctor’s care for hormone replacement. This only solidified the fact that hormone replacement alternatives are becoming very popular. When I started with my new doctor he did not put me on any hormones right away. My overall health was a bigger concern, hence all the tests mentioned before. This doctor believes in a more holistic, homeopathic approach. He immediately told me to start taking supplements that were necessary for healthy body function: fish oil, calcium, a thyroid supplement, and a PMS supplement. After test results he also increased my vitamin D quite a bit. There are many sources for these supplements, but I chose to go with the company he uses as I knew he was using supplements himself. I thought, if he trusts this source for himself, it must be good. I had also done some research on menapause and how it affects your body, and everything I read he supported with his information and knowledge. That made me feel much more confident that I had found the right doctor and we were on the same page. What a great feeling that is!! By the way, all of the supplements I take are completely natural, with ingredients such as rosemary extracts, broccoli extracts, etc. On the other hand, it is important to take these under a doctor’s care. Even natural products can have adverse affects depending on your body. Everyone is different and unique, and it is important that you understand that the right combination for one may not be the same for someone else.

In closing I just want to say that there are many approaches to this problem. This is just my experience and what works for some may not work for others. Try and be smart about your choices, listen to your body, and if you are not comfortable with your current treatment, seek an alternative. Realize that a healthy diet and exercise always play a part in the total body experience.

Good luck and happier hormones