Day 46: The Beginning of the End....

Dear Blog Readers:

I am ready  to set sail for new writing adventures.

I know it is premature to end  my Living Dr. Oz journey but my healthy lifestyle journey didn't begin 46 days ago. 

I have been lucky to be blessed with good health for all my forty five years.  My family doctor has told me for years on end that my test results come back low risk and my risk for major illnesses is that of someone in their early thirties. I have never been told to lose weight despite my dream of being size 8 and looking 28 years old again!  I weight 150 lbs now which is  a healthy weight for someone my age and my height (hovering at 5'9'').  My GP told me that in the last six years my weight has only fluctuated give or take five lbs. My blood pressure is fine and knock on wood, I have kept a steady course of healthy habits in adulthood.

Here is the deal:  I have been eating for the most part very healthy my whole life. I am a decent cook and my meals have always had the four food groups and are balanced. Sure, I am not 135 lbs anymore but people recognize me on the street and I still fit into lots of clothes from five or six years ago.  I am on my feet all day Monday to Friday as a teacher.  I get up at dawn and don't stretch out on the couch till close to eight thirty or nine pm because I am busy running around doing housework, cooking, laundry, errands and all those second shift jobs that full time working moms do.  When I wear my pedometer, I am hitting anywhere from 12,000 to 15,000 a day just doing my teaching job and wife/mom job.

I think this blog idea is better suited to someone who needs to do a complete 360 degree turn around and come full circle in his or her life.  Other than being a little more conscientious of what I snack on, for the most part I have pretty much done what I have always done  and I've felt good about my overall health.

I squeeze in regular exercise on the weekends and I have yet to be out of breath or pain after a day of biking, hiking or swimming.

So, it is time for me to no longer focus on reiterating and regurgitating what Dr. Oz says and what I have been doing for a long time e.g, Omega 3, adequate sleep, Vitamin D, healthy eating, 10,000 steps a day and move on to a different passion. Writing short stories and re-visiting my chick-lit novel, things that are on my bucket list.

Along with: planting a perennial garden, learning how to play guitar, cycling around the city discovering new kitschy spots and joining a choir. I would also like to dust off my tennis raquet and join my kids in a few rounds'.

So dear readers, thank you for your interest in my blog.

I hope one day you will be reading more of Maija Kimens, but this time it will not be about Dr. Oz and health, but a different genre focusing on the human condition.

Wishing you Health and Soulful Happiness,

Maija

Day 45: Here Comes the Sun......

Last year Dr. Oz talked about his number one vitamin supplement: Vitamin D. 

All his audience members left with Vitamin D 3 bottles.  Most of us do not get enough vitamin D in our diet.  We are vitamin D deficient.  Vitamin D insufficiency is linked to many diseases such as cancer, diabetes, MS, cardiovascular disease, depression and autoimmune diseases.

It is recommended that we get 15 minutes of unprotected sunlight a day.  More than that in hot climates is a concern since we are then exposing ourselves to UV rays and increasing our risk of skin cancer.  For those of us fellow Canadians, or people living in northern climates, the sun in the winter is not enough to give us the vitiamin D levels we need in our body. 

Why is Vitamin D 3 important:

-helps bone growth and maintain bone density
-promotes strong bones
-increases calcium absorption to maximize bone health
-boosts your immune system
-prevents cancer
-can  reduce chronic pain

There is a blood test that can be done to ascertain the Vitamin D levels in your body.

The recommended daily about to take is 1,000 mg.  If you have arthritis or other joint or bone issues, higher dosages are recommended.  Consult with your physician before beginning any supplementation.

Spring is here and summer is around the corner.

Practice sun safety by wearing a hat, avoiding the peak sun hours from 11 am to 3 pm and wearing sunscreen without paraben type ingredients. 

Include natural sources of vitamin D and supplement to maintain your optimum health!

Day 44: Forks Over Knives

On April 27th, Dr. Oz had several guests promoting the documentary, Forks Over Knives.  It opens May 20th to the general public in Canada and May 13th in the USA.  I urge you to check out the trailer listed below.  The premise of the movie is that we can improve our health by completely eliminating dairy, fish, eggs, meat and chicken from our diets.  Rather than succumbing one day to the doctor's scalpel, our forks will guide us to a new way of longevity and well-being.


http://www.forksoverknives.com/

Here in Toronto we have had a brilliant day of sunshine! 

Here's to clinking forks rather than glasses,

Maija

Day 43: Health Vows and Wedding Vows Go Hand in Hand

Today Kate and William tied the knot!  History was made for the royal family.  Many Dr. Oz shows tackle the topic of how good marriages can improve health and how bad marriages can destroy your health.  Below I have copied and pasted an article from the Dr. Oz archives. I have also shared my own two cents worth.  My first marriage lasted ten years.  After a a six year hiatus as a single parent, I am now in my third year of my second marriage.  I have some life experience to pass along to the newlyweds too!

I have made mistakes and had successes along the way.  Being imperfect, I have learned the hard way as to what works and doesn't when it comes to communication in relationships.  It's a life-long learning skill too.  We either grow as people in a way that brings people closer or creates distance. 

 In January 2010, this is what Dr. Oz had to share about the link between the marriage and health:

Most of us have heard that married people are healthier than their single counterparts. But new research shows that the state of your union matters more than just being married.

One recent study found that couples living in a miserable marriage are 25 times more likely to suffer a major depression than those in a happy marriage. And if you have suffered a heart attack, a bad marriage could increase your risk for a second attack. It can also cripple your recovery from cancer and weaken your immune system. Even a single bad argument can raise your blood pressure sharply, putting your health on the line.

Facing tough times is part and parcel of matrimony. In fact, the first 5 years of marriage have been shown to be the most stressful, as couples navigate the transition from dating, take on new financial responsibilities, consider becoming (or become) parents, and build a life together. But how you choose to respond to the slings and arrows could save your life. Here are 4 tips designed to alleviate stress, increase communication and help make your relationship and you healthier.

Identify Your Stressors
Sit down with your partner and write down everything that causes stress in your relationship. Divide triggers into 2 categories: in your control and out of your control. Then pick 3 items from the “in your control” list, brainstorm ways you can work together to solve them, and write your strategies down.

Fight Fair
Conflict is a natural, inevitable part of any relationship and running from it will only seed trouble, not solve it. But it’s how you fight that counts.

The healthiest way to disagree is to view an argument as an opportunity to work things out and develop effective communication skills. Explain how you feel, ask for what you need, encourage your spouse to do the same and listen well when they do. Follow the 5 to 1 rule: for every single negative thing you say to one another, you wipe out 5 positive things you have said.

Make Peace Over Money
Experts (and amateurs) agree that having a different approach to spending money is one of the greatest relationship stressors and the cause of many fights and divorces. Explain to your other half how your parents dealt with money and how that informs your choices and have them do the same. Then each of you should clearly explain what you need or want and where your priorities lie. Come to an agreement about how you will spend, and how you will talk about spending, that you both can live with.

Prioritize Health
Controlling the stress in your life is a great first step to improving your health. Bolster that commitment with other healthy choices. Make more meals at home, never skip breakfast, pack healthy lunches, and limit how much you eat out (which will cut down on money stress and overeating). (The Dr. Oz show - Jan. 7, 2010).

My advice to the couple is as follows:  Follow the Golden Rule.

Do unto others as you would like them to do unto you.  Always take the high road during a conflict so you never have any regrets of what you have said, done, unsaid or not done. 

Follow Judy Welch's 10 10 10 approach to issues.  Ask yourself will this matter (or how signficant will this be) ten minutes from now, ten days from now, ten weeks from now, ten months from now and ten years from now?

Ask yourself, is this a hill to die on? (Courtesy of my former next door neighbour, a new age massage therapist who always shared this mantra).

Make peace first rather than last.

Marry someone who you feel at home with and who is like your long lost friend.

Shared values and philosophies of life are more important than shared interests. 

In the end you need to have similiar views on family, finances and life creeds as those are the things that get you through the peaks and valleys of marriage. 

A tennis partner for doubles, a shared interest in cultural affairs or a  passion for imported cheeses at farmer markets is not as important as finding someone who shows and lives mutual respect for others.

Trust your gut instinct and speak up if something signficant is bothering you rather than let resentments build.

Ask yourself everday, have I done one thing to help my spouse today?

Don't be a prince or primadonna with one another.  Give more than you get and your life will reap far more health benefits than if you keep a tally chart.

Trust is the bricks and mortar that creates the foundation of marriage.

Don't let your past love life failures or history dictate your present and future.  Every day is a new beginning to do and say things to one another that are helpful rather than harmful.

Lastly, tell your spouse everyday how much he or she means to you. Treasure one another everyday so that your love will grow each and everyday.

Long Live Love (and Long Live the Queen),

Maija

Day 42: Making Sacred Time for Your Family the Dr. Oz Way

Nowadays, much of our time spent with others is filled with distractions. 

Ever notice at work, around the dinner table or at restaurants, people sitting beside and across from one another are not spending quality time together?

 Either people are texting, watching TV, flicking through the pages of a newspaper, book or magazine or the radio is blaring.

I have met many widowed folks and people who live alone, who keep their TV or radio on all the time for company. 

Whether we are alone or with others, technology fills a void with electronbic company when that space around the table is scared.  Habits are hard to break. Especially when people are accustomed to tuning out at the end of the day when they need to be tuning in. We need to be reaching out to each other. 

Dr. Oz writes about the importance of family in his April 2010 blog.  This is what Dr. Oz says,
                                      Importance of Family
"This week one of the most important people in my life, my wife Lisa, will be joining me on the show.  She is a major creative force and an integral part of “The Dr. Oz Show” family.  In fact, she predicted long ago that I would one day have my own television show, and as much as I’d love to take the credit, Lisa is responsible for that prediction coming true. 

The professional and creative collaborations we’ve shared over 25 years of marriage not only give us more time to spend together, but also help us remain connected despite two very demanding careers and four kids.  It strengthens our family when we can look at what another is doing and find ways to join in. It’s one of the concepts Lisa explores in her new book Us: Transforming Ourselves and the Relationships that Matter Most.

What Lisa teaches us with this book is that “us” begins with “you.” On the show, we’re focusing on the relationship between parents and their children. I believe she’s drawn from her personal experiences and crafted a book that reveals the Oz-family formula for parents balancing their careers and all-important family time.

For example, there’s a good chance your kids are interested in something you could find interesting as well, but you’ll only figure that out if you slow down long enough to look at it. One of the best times to do so is when you’re together at the dinner table. All families should make better use of this sacred time. Even if the family can only get together once a week, it can become the event that everyone looks forward to and where everyone gets to express themselves;hopefully it will become a beloved tradition your children impart as they grow older and begin families of their own.

It is fundamentally important that parents take action now, because many children are growing up in homes where both parents have full-time careers, a major change from the American norm just 50 years ago. As a result, we have to work harder than ever to establish a bond with them. What we can teach them now by example is how to manage a successful career without allowing it to cast your loved ones in its shadow.  -Dr. Oz".

In my first marriage, when I was a single parent and now in my second marriage, I have continued to insist that at dinner time, the TV is off and we are tuned  in to chat with one another.  Even when I was on my own and my children were visiting their father, I set a table for one, made myself a nice homemade meal nad sat in silence, enjoying my dinner hour. 

That twenty minutes a few times a week is often the only time that all family members get together.  Plus, without having distractions, you can enjoy the food in front of you, pay attention to when you are full and eat mindfully.

Next time we fill our agendas with our commitments, hobbies, appointments and celebratory dates, make sure you add family dinner time on the calendar a few times a week.

It sets a precedence that will be passed on for future generations to come and then there will always be a space at the table for you too!
,

Day 41: Shhhh......

Today was a busy day! My class went on a morning field trip, in the afternoon we performed a song for an Earth Day assembly and the rest of the day has been filled with errands and all those hidden responsiblities that working moms do before their spouses get home. 

Therefore, tonight while I still have a reserve of energy, I am giving myself some down time .

 Dr. Oz reviewed the dos and don`ts of what to do if someone faints on his show today.  Elevate a person`s  feet 12 inches above their head, loosen clothing, check for pulse and breathing and call 911.  In this segment, Dr. Oz had two actors situated in a busy food court walking by and one actor pretended to faint.  Other than an off duty nurse, a person who worked in Emergency services and someone who had CPR and First Aid training, no one even got up and came to the aid of the fainting victim.  The folks closet to the woman who had fainted, stayed sitting and some even continued to eat oblivious to the scene before them.

When it was revealed that this was all an act, the people who did not come to the victim`s aid admitted that they had no idea what to do and waited until someone stepped up to the plate.

This spring everyone of us should be re-certifying our expired first aid certificates or doing what we can to learn how to handle ourselves in an unexpected emegency.

It`s one thing to put up a Do Not Disturb sign to catch a few extra zzzz...s and another to turn a blind eye to someone who needs help.

Day 40: Fashion Faux Pas Health Hazards

What does a cinched waist belt, wedge sandals and a pair of metal aviator sunglasses have in common? 

On the Dr. Oz show yesterday, Dr. Oz and a fashion expert talked about the health hazards of some of the latest looks and what options you could do for a healthy fashion alternative.

Metal aviator sunglasses can cause rashes over time.  Substitute a pair of oversized plastic sunglasses for the same look.

Tight cinched belts can cause indigestion and restrict the abdominal muscles.  Skinny belts are the healthier and more comfortable option. 

Ankle wedge sandals can cause ankle damage and increase potential risk of injury when wearing them.  Instead substitute wedge sandals with a pair that have a supportive ankle strap or pick gladiator sandals.

 Be a smiling fashionista. Not a suffering fashionista.  Sacrificing comfort for fashion winds up giving you health consequences down the road.  Walk the runway pain free by choosing the better accessory.