Learn Something New All the Time

Boy the last couple of days have been quite educational. I heard back from my endo last night and she said that the skin infection can be caused by any of the things she is testing me for and that I shouldn't be worried as it is reinforcing what is going on with me as a whole. I also learned that shaving and bathing with antibacterial soap can help prevent all these skin infections - but who really wants to use that soap. Actually you don't use "soap" one uses Cetaphil antibiotic cleanser which is not soap. A bit expensive but I'll give it a shot. I started using the antibiotic cream last night so hopefully it will kick in soon.

Yippee, I got my drugs back today! Good thing too as my blood pressure was very high this morning - 170/110. I breaking them up and taking one kind in the morning and the other at night hoping to have a positive effect all day since sometimes it get very high when one is due. We'll see what happens.

Today I started a new diet. It's not really a diet so I have no clue why they call it that but I did some research and found out the The Zone Diet actually helps lower cortisol levels, is great for diabetics and helps fight cancer. And guess what, it's not low carb - I always thought it was. Anyway you just eat a ton of fruit and veggies and an adequate amount of protein. The rationalization is that carbs from pasta and rice and stuff turns very quickly to sugar giving you extreme highs and lows throughout the day. Protein gives you body the fuel it needs for the muscles but not too much to kill your kidneys. And fat, I get to eat the right fat at every meal since it helps you metabolize the sugar in your body so it does not turn to fat. Basically a woman can eat 3 - 4 ounces (about the size of your palm and as thick) of protein (about 20 grams), 30 grams of carbs like veggies and fruit and sometimes a very small amount of rice, pasta or other starch but mainly veggies and fruit - which I love. And finally 10 grams of a healthy fat so you can add nuts, olive oil, avocados, or some other healthy fat. Guess what I can still eat my cheese, have a glass of wine and eat desserts as long as I make sure I have the 1-2-3 balance of fat, protein and carbs. And you have to eat on a schedule; like breakfast at 7 and lunch by 1 and then a snack 2-3 hours later then dinner in another 2-3 hours and finally a light snack before bed. I know, I know a snack before bed. But they tell you that the brain still needs food at night so you can have a balanced snack - ex. and apple, and serving of cheese and some nuts. And if you're me, maybe a small glass of wine. Not that I actually drink anything other than water. Basically the only things limited (not excluded) are too much juice and starches since they cause your insulin levels to fluctuate greatly. The idea is to keep the insulin in the "zone" so you don't feel like you need sugar. This is very different from Atkin's who don't allow hardly any fruit and lots of any kind of fat and absolutely no starch. With this I can still eat a turkey sandwich! Go figure. So I figure at this point I have nothing to lose and I might as well give it a try for a month or so. Besides they don't promote rapid weight loss – only 1 - 1.5 pounds of fat per week. Anyway, I figure I will at least feel better mentally knowing I am eating as healthy as I possibly can and if it helps the cortisol and blood sugar too than I win!

Oh, and, the Zone definitely recommends at least half and hour of exercise and a few minutes of strength training to get started. I think I can handle that.

I dropped off some papers to my doctor and learned that Social Security contacted her about what is going on and her take is that they will give it to me - keep your fingers crossed!

I learned some other stuff too but somehow I forgot it - oh well it will come back!