Healthy Snacks

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So you want to lose weight or maybe you want to keep it off without starving yourself(which doesn't make you lose weight by the way as body comes to it's defense to protect itself) and feeling deprived and hungry all the time. Well besides exercise and a balanced diet of the different food groups, having healthy snacks on hand when sugar level drops in between three meals a day is a good idea. Drinking plenty of water and making your own juices daily in a blender rather than drinking sanitized juice from super market. Is also a natural,cheap way to detoxify your body. It fights cravings as literally changes your taste buds so don't crave sugar,chocoate or salt. Juices can contain a mix of veggies and fruit like kale,carrots,apples,melon,oranges and grapefruit. When you drink them you immediately feel better and happier as are swallowing alot of vitamin C!
Some other options that come to mind of healthy snacks are: a piece of fruit like an apple,orange(has vitamin C. Great to fight depression) or a peach,yogurt in a variety of flavors like real blueberries (great to keep brain healthy), strawberry(rich in antioxidants) Yogurt also contains acidophilus which prevents yeast infections. A banana is another option rich in potassium which is good for your heart. Other healthy snacks include cheese(don't over load on it as can make you constipated) and crackers. Raisins is another. Graham, ginger snap and animal cookies are low in fat, calories. Trail mix and granola are other healthy snacks. So is popcorn.

Some Indian healthy snacks also called chaat, are: banana chips, Karaboondhi, Vadai, Pakoda, Kozhukattai, Murukku. These and other Indian healthy snacks are rich in beans, flour and rice.
Stay clear of potato chips, which are full of salt and cooking oil and Doritos which has monosoium glutomate which can cause hives if allergic. Don't eat candy bars to fill the belly if on the run either as sugar is bad for teeth. Stick to healthy snacks like ones listed above to stay fit and healthy. Remember your body is a finely tuned machine. If you want it to do what you want it to do, you must feed it healthy snacks and food.

After 8 pm is when most people snack. This is the worst time as then you go to bed say around 10 pm and it just sits there in your gut. If you must snack as are nervous or need to satisfy your oral fixation, then go with one of these healthy snacks mentioned but don't over indulge. Many people are emotional eaters who aren't eating just because they're hungry. They eat often all day whether happy,sad,nervous,bored,etc. One really needs to look at what are doing. A food journal is a great way to track your thoughts,feelings and behavior so can get some control over self and life. Just like if you like to shop, the best place to go and do the least damage is a dollar store, eating healthy snacks is a great way to control the hunger and the cravings. Here's to your health!

How to Access the Risk factors in Deciding Whether a Parent is Still Able to live Alone

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How to access the risk factors in deciding whether a parent is still able to live alone involves several criteria. If you are like many of us, you don't live down the road from your parent. Much of what you hear that is going on or not going on in your parent's life then is based on their interpretation of things which may or may not be true. Some are prone to exageration or intentionally try to make their children feel guilty so they will drop everything, including their own lives and come running. In some cases this could mean driving six hours or jumping on a plane. This is particularly hard if you work full time or have a family depending on you. So what does one do? First you need to keep things in perspective and be level-headed about how you deal with it all as this is just the beginning of what can be a long bumpy ride. Contrary to what some may think in that their parent(s) are just being difficult, this is all perfectly normal and part of the aging process. It is also about the parent-child relationship as it shifts as our parent (s) get past a certain age, say 65. Then they become more frail,begin to have health problems and we need to pick up the slack and help them, instead of being selfish and them helping us. If we are honest with ourselves, it's about time. When parents retire, many end up being baby sitters for their daughters with no pay. It becomes expected of them. It is fine for awhile but then they need a break.

With my own mother, she chose to work until 76 as she wanted to be productive and she felt she needed the extra money. Actually she could have gone into senior housing back then at 62 and paid a fraction of what she was paying in rent(30% of income). She delayed it as those places tend to be gossipy. We eventually convinced her and my sister had her moved in after I found the place, after putting in applications at many places. It was well maintained too. Then we got her an aide to assist her. There were some 'doozies' along the way but she eventually clicked with someone and had her for 10 years until the woman passed on. My mom would go to a senior center a couple of times a week and doctor appointments. Aide would do laundry, food shopping with her and clean, chit chat and occasionally take bus and go clothes shopping until got to be too much for my mom. I advise an agency hired to assist your parent with a 24 beeper worn on parent's neck, working with phone in case parent falls so ambulance can take her/him to emergency room at hospital. Agency is paid by insurance company. They have a visiting nurse come by and take vitals, give out medication, offer physical therapy,etc. The goal here is to alleviate their stress and loneliness they often feel at this stage of their lives.

When I started getting the calls from upstate NY from my mom in lower Westchester at 2 AM that she fell as was feeling light headed and was at the ER, I was shocked at first. After the 4th trip there in a month, the agency told me she was no longer able to be alone and they could no longer care for her as she needed more care. She had previously been in the nursing home near her apartment building as became depressed. She came home briefly and I went back home after staying at her place and visiting daily. She ended up in the hospital afer having seizures,something never had before and afer was placed in the nursing home wing. She was exhibiting signs of dementia. She was scared of the people caring for her. I had her transferred to another home. The doctor was excellent and put her on an anti-seizure drug(keperin) and seizures stopped. He also recommended she be kept in quiet area. I visited and found her sitting in her own business. It was obvious it had been for some time. Later a catheter was inserted. They put them(patients) in wheel chairs in the tv room where one channel ran all day. Needless to say I pulled her out of there and had her transferred to the nursing home upstate where I could visit her weekly and call the staff to check on her. She had a nice roommate,attended art classes,a therapist, group therapy(to adjust to being in a home). She had a dedicated aide, the nurses were pleasant and so was her doctor. My mom was a big woman and incontinent. She manipulated me into bringing her home but after a few days I returned her as I couldn't care for her. It was too much. I started seeing a therapist to cope.

After a year upstate, she developed a huge ulcer. She had to have blood transfusions, nearly died several times,got to the point couldn't eat as was nauseous. The ulcer hole had closed so the bleeding had stopped which as a good thing and I felt hope only to be told that she was dying and didn't have long as she couldn't keep anything down. I had wanted to try entroscopic surgery but my mom had had enough and hospice was called in. At this point it was all about keeping her comfortable to die and not prolonging her life and helping her. The doctor and nurses went away. It was hard for me to take as am a fighter and didn't want to give up on her. It was her wish and I had to respect it. During this tme we spoke often about the past, she kept seeing her therapist who helped her come to terms with her life that she had lead and the present, and now the stages of death. She said to me I remember "I didn't know it was this bad. I thought I had more time." It broke my heart as I loved my mom dearly for not what she did or didn't do for me as she made her mistakes as we all do, but because she was my mom! She passed soon after and I said good bye to her prior as didn't want to be there for that but hospice was so she was not alone. She was on morphine and was out of it anyway.

Looking back on it, it was a blessing to share that experience with my mom and be able to be there for her. She had been there listening to me complain about work,relationships,this and that like so many of us do,for years. She was a very selfless,religious person,quiet and kind. I had several masses said for her and a priest came from my church before she passed so she could be at peace. What we have to come to terms with when dealing wth our aging parents is saying we are sorry and them saying the same as we do our best. I wasn't such a great daughter as have my problems as many of us do. She was there for me though. I didn't listen and did what wanted. I remembered her birthday,Christmas,mother's day,valentine's day and visited her when could which wasn't enough but I arranged for her to be be cared for as best as I could so I could have my own life. Atleast I was there though as like many familes one is designated as the caretaker. When was younger there was alot of instability in the home and I feel like I could have been better taken care of. It is done now and one has to do the best with each day but it has effected me,my life and my relationships. I think that is why many children don't visit their parents in nursing homes and hospitals as they felt neglected like me or were abused as children. Regardless, it is closure we all need and am grateful and feel blessed truly for the experience as was able to share my story of what went through(not around) wih my aged parent with you. I hope it will be of help to you on this journey all of us have to go on.

Been awhile...

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Trust you've been well. What's new with me??

Well end of November found an apt. drafty,old building but have roof over head.

Was in art exhibit in Cohoes,NY at the 'Venue' through www.choosecohoesforart.org Donated one of my prints to charity promoting art in area. Currently teaching art class at library.

Will be in library art exhibit in April.

Midmay will be one of the vendors at Canal fest in Waterford,NY. Hope to get rid of flea market,yard sale items cluttering my home don't use. Selling used dvds,cds,jewelry,antique bottles and new handmade jewelry,art prints by me. So it's taking time but am doing something and slowly adapting to new environs. Am thinking of freelance writing online for money and tutoring grades 1-10 at library in group setting for $25/hr. individual,$10/hr. groups.

Staying in room in Albany with my service dog....

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For $920. a month with all included.

Was in homeless shelter for two months prior as lost my housing. Friend had cats we share and then moved. In veteran's home, dropped them with me, landlord saw one, next was getting 30 day notice.Got very overwhelmed with all the changes. Am back on meds so doing better. Been looking six months for decent, affordable housing in Albany area in safe neighborhood. Am on disability so can't look for anything higher than $600,1 BR with closets so can get rid of storage locker, paying $65. a month on. I have service dog and a couple of E.A. cats that make it hard. They currently are in a rescue group being fostered.

Just got back in TBI program, as have head injury so hoping they can help get me a place, with my animals, get housing subsidy back.

Stayed at Motel 6....

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In Albany, NY. Was awful. Indian woman at front desk told me should throw me out, when I arrived, if I let my animals(one service dog, a couple of emotional assistance, psychiatric cats) on the bed. I stayed the night without incident. She came by my room later the next day, unannounced for an 'inspection' of the room as I have animals was the reason. She said place was sloppy.smelled.water on floor near water bowl, to clean it up, hair on curtains.told me to leave now,eventhough had paid for the night. I refused to leave and she threatened to call police, so I called them after asking her to leave which she wouldn't so I opened the motel room.shoved her out of it and bolted it shut. I leave tomorrow. She said my cats needed to stay in their crates. This place is not pet friendly at all. Had nothing but hot water in bath room sink to brush my teeth with. Bird crap on sidewalk by door. No breakfast.pool, gym, just coffee in am,no microwave, paid 200. For two nights! The staff were very rude.

apt. update..

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got attorney and adult protective services trying to find me a new place and an aide. lawyer has been talking to all parties involved. will see. reviews of campus view apts. where I live here. click to see what a dump it is. yesterday ha water leak in living ceiling and it got all over futon couch/bed soiling my clan bedding recently washed. neighbor said sorry but not compensated as said broke and no car to launder mess he made. blows. called on call number and never got call back, not even next day from building management. awful place.

Housing update..

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So despite all my trying to get my apt. up to snuff(friend from MA. made 4 trips to storage, took me to do 2 loads of wash, I patd neighbor $100. to clean for 10 hours!), it didn't pass HATAS'(homeless and traveler's aid) inspection. No specifics on what need to do to pass. They commented on kitchen table and items on it and below it. I said, have no shelving or closet to put them on or in. they didn't want to hear my 'excuses' and will not help move me as said should have been bagged up(all) not most of things. not what was told.  Had cat and no pets in lease. Am going to get doctor note need her. Also they won't ask Judd to stop eviction but are leaving me hanging but will pay subsidy while housed. Did my best and can do more when friend Bill comes next month on 6/4 before house inspection again by building dept. on the 9th. trying. legal aide takes my case on 5/14. My worker tells me landlord can do as pleases as his place. Not so if paid up and have another year on lease as I do! Tenants have rights too. Sad an agency like HATAS, that is designed to protect the poor, downtrodden, vulnerable, doesn't.

Their mission: to prevent homelessness, 'HATAS employs a holistic wrap-around approach in caring for our neighbors in need and we serve all persons with the dignity and respect that they deserve.'

 

Need to move again,ugh..

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Got 30 day notice from my slummy, landlord. See, I have a lot of things in my place so he says is a fire hazard. not really. Went and got a storage locker, put two car loads of things in it, had it professionally cleaned, straightened up for $80, friend's cat who was visiting and they complained about going, pick up after dog, they said don't so am trying. should have gotten a 10 day 'cure or quit' notice as paid up on rent and have another year on lease. May see a place today.

Local food pantry handing out expired food..

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Guess beggars can't be choosy, huh? Regardless, even the poor deserve safe, fresh food. No? What do you think?  I got 2 small bottles of juice dated March 8 2014 and old crackers.  The stale bread, bruised fruit, veggies is usual to be donated from Price Chopper. Yes, no one says eat it..

At Cohoes United Church same thing happened. Old food dated a year earlier expiration date! Stopped going there.

you can be the greatest!

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watch this video. don't give up on our dreams. Believe in you.