« May 2004 | Main | July 2004 »
June 28, 2004
Body Brag
I went to the doctor this last week. The yearly girlie thing (I can see you wrinkling your nose at that) and my doctor was very pleased. Pleased because I've changed. I've dropped nearly 30 lbs since I was there last year, but best of all...my healthy lifestyle has brought my cholesterol level down...way down.
My cholesterol level is exactly 200 (down from 240). 200! Some of you are saying, wait, that's not all that great...it's at the borderline high risk level! Well, not exactly. The numbers, while they don't lie...don't tell the whole truth.
My HDL (good cholesterol) is at 67. The AHA recommends a level of 40 or more.
My LDL (bad cholesterol) is at 103--which is near optimal!! To understand the LDL levels, look at this chart from the American Heart Association:
LDL Cholesterol Levels
Less than 100 mg/dL Optimal
100 to 129 mg/dL Near Optimal/ Above Optimal
130 to 159 mg/dL Borderline High
160 to 189 mg/dL High
190 mg/dL and above Very High
"The key point to remember is, the lower your LDL cholesterol, the lower your risk. "
I've been working hard since last fall to eat much healthier. More fruits and vegetables. Few processed foods. I haven't eaten fast food (with the exception of Taco Bell's chicken soft tacos) for nearly four years! None of that Atkins/South Beach crap for me. Just healthy eating--watching portions, trying to get all the food groups in and getting off my ass and moving it around.
Since the spring, I started walking on a regular basis and when I joined the Mount Auburn Club, I discovered something else...I really DO like exercise. I like how it makes me feel. I like that I sleep better. I like how I look forward to water aerobics, weight training and finding ways to challenge my body. I love that I feel stronger. I love that I didn't get sick even ONCE this last winter...I haven't been sick in nearly a year, in fact!! Those of you who know me now how rare this is.
Very cool, huh? And to top it off, I am starting to actually see and feel muscle definition in my arms, shoulders, back and calves from all the weight lifting I've been doing.
My clothes are becoming too big. Joe looked at a pair of jean shorts I was wearing this weekend that have been a summer staple for the last couple years and he laughed. "You look like you are wearing a saggy diaper!" Looks like those shorts are headed to the Goodwill pile. They will join the two huge bags of winter clothes that I gave away at the beginning of spring. The clothes still fit me at the time...it was a bold move, deciding that they needed to go because I refuse to fit into them this winter. And my boldness is paying off. I will need a new winter wardrobe. In another five pounds, I'll be lighter than I've been in TEN years.
Pretty damn cool, if you ask me.
My goal is to be healthier and more fit at 35 (I have two years to go!) than I was at 15. I'm halfway there!
For those of you chicks that want to join me in my quest for buffness, I found a kickass site chock-full of good information: Stumptuous. And for those of you with a hankering for healthy goodness:
Skinny Daily
Put Down the Donut
Posted by crystallyn at 06:41 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
June 20, 2004
fish heads fish heads...
roly poly fish heads....fish heads fish heads, eat them up, yum!
Well, okay maybe fish heads aren't so great to eat, but fish in general can be mighty tasty to a lot of people.
I actually didn't grow up eating any fish or seafood with the exception of tuna fish from a can. We were landlocked, in Spokane and Boise, and fresh fish wasn't something my parents ever ate or cooked. So it wasn't until I moved to Seattle and to Boston that I realized that there is a lot of seafood that I should at least try.
Joe still thinks I'm picky about fish and seafood, but really, you are talking about someone who never touched most fish until she turned 23 or 24, so I think I'm doing pretty good. I love most shellfish...shrimp, crab, lobster, clams, mussels. I'm pickier about fish though, tending to enjoy salmon and tuna best, although I do think swordfish and mahi mahi are pretty good.
But as I've started to become very aware of my health and the types of foods I'm putting into my body (and the impact of how those foods being farmed or harvested may have on the environment), I've learned that when it comes to fish, there are several factors that make me decide not to choose or buy it.
First and foremost, is the harmful ways that over-fishing can hurt the environment and destroy full species of fish. I don't eat swordfish anymore because of this, but I really wasn't aware of the full range of fish that are affected by poor farming methods and overfishing.
Someone on one of the health boards I frequent mentioned that orange roughy has been farmed nearly to commercial extinction, just as we are starting to learn about this unique fish. The Orange Roughy lives 2,500 to 6,000 feet below the surface, which is put into perspective by the fact that most people can only dive to 200 feet. This has made it extremely difficult to study the life of these fish. Recent examinations of this fish have found that it can live to be 150 years old and is not mature until the age of 20. This means that at dinner you could be eating a fish that was born before your grandparents. Because of their slow breeding cycle the fisheries are quickly becoming depleted and will take decades to recover. Orange roughy are caught by bottom trawling, a method which can damage the seafloor, with unknown impacts on the fragile deep-sea ecosystem.
This person pointed to a great resource by the Monterey Bay Aquarium to knowing what types of fish to avoid because of the detrimental impact that farming/catching these fish have on both the species and the environment. It's worth printing out the cards so you know what to avoid at the market or in restaraunts.
Another thing that I'm also pretty aware of these days is mercury poisoning. Mercury is being found in increasing amounts in many types of fish. Being exposed to too much mercury can result in loss of motor skills, memory, and even kidney damage. Most people don't eat enough fish to be affected, but in recent years, fish has been touted as one of the healthiest foods, so consumption has increased dramatically.
KEEP ON READING....
In 2001, the FDA issued a warning that pregnant women should avoid tilefish, shark, swordfish and king mackerel. The warning further suggested that no more than 12 oz. of fish a week should be eaten.
Now, the reason for the warning is to protect the unborn baby, but what happens to the rest of us who eat fish? What about those who consistently eat fish 2-3 times a week--more than 12 oz.? Tuna, sushi, sea bass, etc... Pretty easy to eat a lot of fish if you are trying to adhere to a lowfat diet and you eat out a lot. Mercury builds up in the body over time, so prolonged exposure could be detrimental.
Interestingly enough, in March 2004, the FDA revised their warning...but the problem is, while it briefly mentions children, it doesn't include other adults. Cleanwateraction.org also warns against eating any freshwater fish caught in New England.
Doctors are starting to see the effects of too much mercury in their patients. Many think that the FDA levels are far too low. A recent letter to the FDA by a group of doctors and scientists cites three reports that are actually quite alarming.
But even if they aren't too low, it's pretty darn easy to meet those limits and not even realize it. If you are a fish eater, check out the mercury calculator at gotmercury.org. It's pretty eye-opening when you see how easy it would be to overdo the recommended limits...just 4 oz of tuna, 6 oz of red snapper and 6 oz of lobster puts you 140% over.
Even more disturbing is that Bush has pushed to REDUCE mercury standards in favor of coal-fired power plants. The Sierra Club has even more information on this atrocity.
So really, I think it's okay that I don't like much fish. By eating less fish, I'm doing the environment and often, my own body, a favor.
Posted by crystallyn at 07:32 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
June 18, 2004
I'm SO Mad, Sick and Angry
That our country is in such a place that for most of us living in America, we probably won't escape the fear of terrorism and retaliation in our lifetime. Thank you Mr. Bush. Thank you.
May Paul Johnson find peace.
That said, there are 20 Things You Have to Believe To Be A Republican Today, stolen from Steve Gilliard, who I think stole them from someone else...
1. Being a drug addict is a moral failing and a crime, unless you're a conservative radio host. Then it's an illness and you need our prayers for your recovery.
2. The United States should get out of the United Nations, and our highest national priority is enforcing U.N. resolutions against Iraq.
3. Government should relax regulation of Big Business and Big Money but crack down on individuals who use marijuana to relieve the pain of illness.
4. "Standing Tall for America"; means firing your workers and moving their jobs to India.
5. A woman can't be trusted with decisions about her own body, but multi-national corporations can make decisions affecting all mankind without regulation.
6. Jesus loves you, and shares your hatred of homosexuals and Hillary Clinton.
7. The best way to improve military morale is to praise the troops in speeches while slashing veterans' benefits and combat pay.
8. Group sex and drug use are degenerate sins unless you someday run for governor of California as a Republican.
9. If condoms are kept out of schools, adolescents won't have sex.
10. A good way to fight terrorism is to belittle our long-time allies,then demand their cooperation and money.
11. HMOs and insurance companies have the interest of the public at heart.
12. Providing health care to all Iraqis is sound policy. Providing health care to all Americans is socialism.
13. Global warming and tobacco's link to cancer are junk science, but creationism should be taught in schools.
14. Saddam was a good guy when Reagan armed him, a bad guy when Bush's daddy made war on him, a good guy when Cheney did business with him and a bad guy when Bush needed a "we can't find Bin Laden" diversion.
15. A president lying about an extramarital affair is an impeachable offense. A president lying to enlist support for a war in which thousands die is solid defense policy.
16. Government should limit itself to the powers named in the Constitution, which include banning gay marriages and censoring the Internet.
17. The public has a right to know about Hillary's cattle trades, but George Bush's driving record is none of our business.
18. You support states' rights, which means Attorney General John Ashcroft can tell states what local voter initiatives they have a right to adopt.
19. What Bill Clinton did in the 1960s is of vital national interest, but what Bush did in the '80s is irrelevant.
20. Trade with Cuba is wrong because the country is communist, but trade with China and Vietnam is vital to a spirit of international harmony.
Posted by crystallyn at 07:03 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
June 15, 2004
i cannot wait
for CB2 to come to Boston!!!!!!!!
Posted by crystallyn at 09:50 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
June 11, 2004
processed food gets the thumbs down
Finally, big processed food companies are feeling the pinch, as described in this article from SignOnSanDiego.
Companies like Kraft are struggling to meet new competitive standards...and consumers' desire to eat healthier.
Cheese is a great example.
From the article: "Lately, Kraft's cheese business has been pressured by an onslaught of high-end products. Last year, U.S. sales of natural Asiago cheese, primarily distributed by a handful of importers and private-label brands, jumped 43 percent to $7.4 million, according to Information Resources Inc. Sales of Kraft aerosol cheese, which includes Cheez Whiz, fell 9.6 percent. Kraft's natural cheese sales grew 5.3 percent, while sales of its processed cheese fell 2 percent. "
At the one of the busiest Whole Foods stores in their chain, River Street in Cambridge, MA, the entire cheese counter overturns its stock in ONE WEEK. It's a massive, gourmet cheese counter!! I love love love all the wonderful cheeses they have.
And it's amazing...according to the article, Kraft wanted to buy an organic dairy so they could use the milk in their processed products. Clearly they just don't get it, do they?
I for one am glad for the health awareness craze...I see so many obese children now and it makes me heartsick. And it's companies like Kraft who push cheap, fake food on the market that lower income families can afford. Eating healthy IS more difficult, and that's the sad part of it all. Sure, I might be able to get cheap fruit at Star Market, but it's covered in pesticides and handled poorly. I'd rather shop at Whole Foods and pay more and know that I'm getting a better product. But some people can't afford that.
Argh. The older I get the more anti-establishment, anti-corporation I am becoming. Move me to Vermont already!
Posted by crystallyn at 06:39 PM | TrackBack
June 10, 2004
no pinocchio for me
Unlike others, I have a tough time when I lie. I agonize over it, and worry. This is ironic because I grew up learning how to be a very effective liar.
When I was young, my mother was the very very overprotective hen. She watched over us kids like a hawk, questioning our every move, who we were with, where we were going, etc. I can appreciate this more now, but unfortunately, it fostered a very very bad habit--lying.
I was a wilful child. Others have even told me, in my adulthood, that they imagined me being so. I wanted my way and I had to have it. If I was told no, I would usually find some way to get it anyway. My sister was like this as well, but worse. The fundamental difference, however, is that I was adept at lying and she wasn't. By the time high school rolled around, Misty was always in trouble, with teachers, with boys, with grades, you name it. She became such a handful and I seemed more responsible. Key word--seemed.
But really, I was responsible...although my parents wouldn't have believed me. I didn't drink till I was in college. I never did drugs. I didn't smoke. I was a virgin till I was 18. I had straight A's (except algebra) but I looked like a freak. A waver/punk rock/Cure/Depeche Mode/wannabe sort of 80s batcave chick. This appearance is probably the ONLY reason I didn't get away with more in high school. They were just a little worried about me. But my career as a liar went into full swing.
I was never where I said I would be. If I was spending the night at Camille's I was probably at a party, or babysitting my friends dropping acid. If I was supposed to be staying with Traci, I was probably out clubbing till all hours of the night because she didn't have curfew. I never got caught. I always called at key times to reassure my mother. That was the ticket. Hearing my voice at midnight was enough. My sister? She missed those key calls...never occurred to her to VOLUNTARILY call. I called my mom all the time...she never had to ask me. And thus, she never had to worry.
And I became good at lying. As I moved on in life, in relationships, at work, where needed, I became even more adept...to get what I wanted, or thought that I wanted. I was not an honorable person.
The thing is, the other thing my mother instilled in me was guilt. Extreme guilt. Well, not as extreme as hers (it always baffles me when someone who fervently worships Jesus doesn't ever feel forgiven for their sins). We should have been Catholic. I always felt guilty when I lied. Terribly guilty.
Guilty enough that I pretty much washed my hands of it all four years ago. I flipped over that slate, deciding that I needed to live my life with honor. To be straight with the people in my life, regardless of the outcome. (Okay, we're not talking about common sense white lies...lying when you know it means nothing is one thing, like telling a child it was the best story you have ever read but of course it wasn't). I decided that if I needed to lie, there was something wrong with the situation and I should face up to it.
Recently I was faced with another dilemma...a situation that technically meant I needed to lie to preserve a particular appearance, because I wasn't ready for the situation to change just yet...it was a catch-22. If I lied, it was good for my future. If I didn't lie, it would be bad for my present, which in turn could mess up the future.
I agonized over this...trying to figure out the best, most believable lie. It was pretty pathetic. I had conversations with girlfriends and with Joe about the best lie I could tell. All the while I was agonizing over it, probably WAY more so than the situation even demanded. Probably no one would have cared if I had lied anyway. But still...I wanted to be true and I was trying to figure out how to reconcile that.
And miraculously, the answer came that helped me get out of that predicament. I was able to just be honest, because my situation had changed positively and I could tell the truth without negative consequence. I have to believe that my agonizing over it...that feeling it was a real moral dilemma, moved the universe to really help me out. I believe that to be so, that because I wanted to honor this base belief...to be honest and true to the best of my ability, is along the path I should be leading, and so the doors opened up.
Karma.
Posted by crystallyn at 07:38 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
June 07, 2004
hellraiser
Just for Sean...these are the pictures I took of that room. But it was too dark to really take any pictures. I couldn't capture the swinging bullhorns, the sheer creepiness.
But this picture of joe is pretty freaky.
and this one...of the way out.
Posted by crystallyn at 06:48 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
June 05, 2004
it's official
33 years ago...both me...and Marky Mark.
"There was a star danced, and under that was I born."
--William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing
Posted by crystallyn at 04:08 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
June 04, 2004
Nobody ever called Pablo Picasso an...
I have pictures of last weekend's "Hellraiser" (as Sean mentioned) trip to MASS MocA.
But before I go there, let me post an old picture, which I rather like, taken a few months ago at the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, when Joe's friend, Steve, was visiting. This picture is of an exhibit that is part of Día de los Muertos/Day of the Dead.
Now on to MASS MoCA.
A mirror picture in the bathroom, which is a strange bathroom.
And an odd picture which I really love. I don't remember the name of this exhibit...I should have written it down. It is, essentially, wall graffiti posters that take up an entire wall. This is just a bit of it.
And to see the Corpus pictures...keep going...
I really enjoyed this exhibit and I didn't have a sense of Hellraiser at all, but that could be because it's been AGES since I've seen those movies.
Ann Hamilton's Corpus takes up Building 5, which is about the size of a football field. Rather, I felt much like the artist intended, that I was in a cathedral of some ethereal sort. I loved the light, airy feeling, the sense of peace that I had while I was there. I especially loved the windows, which are covered in pink silk. The light was wonderful. From the ceiling bullhorns rise and fall, slowly, with numerous voices chanting and talking simultaneously. Pieces of paper randomly fall from the ceiling to cover the ground. When we realized that they must have just cleaned the floor, we were disappointed. I wish we could have seen it when it was completely layered in paper. Still, I really loved this exhibit.
And Joe, watching the falling paper.
Posted by crystallyn at 11:09 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
June 01, 2004
little bits of stuff
All sorts of things to chat about...
1. The June Plum Ruby Review is up!
2. If you are ever in the vicinity of North Adams, MA, you need to check out MASS MoCA. We saw many wonderful exhibits, including Matthew Ritchie's Proposition Player.
3. Hiking Bash-Bish Falls is a wonderful thing to do on a sunny Saturday!
4. Through LJC, I found some Ugly Dolls, and lo! At MASS MoCA this weekend, we found the Ugly Icebat! Perfect for our little nephew's 4th bday. ;) I want one too!
Posted by crystallyn at 06:27 AM | Comments (6) | TrackBack