I know this topic has been around and around. I got the below attachment today and realized we all might benefit from these simple preventative measures. I am still looking for the H1N1 vaccine before we go to Europe this November - wish me luck!

 

While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):
       
 1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).
       
 2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat or bathe.)
    
 3. *Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine or Hydrogen Peroxide if you don't trust salt).  *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.
       
4. Similar to 3 above, *clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water, or hydrogen peroxide. *Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but *blowing the nose softly once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.*
       

5. *Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits). *If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.
                
6. *Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can. *Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.

Good luck all -

Hey all -

I am sorry I have been out of it...again..I try to post, but FB is fast, easy and instantly gratifying so I have fallen out on my blog space....

My family is having a LOT going on...again. Life has a way of catching up with you. I am happy to say that some of the measures I put in place have been seriously coming through for me.  For instance...Even when I dont want to, I meet my trainer. That is a huge investment, I know, but if I left it up to me I would listen to the headache or the sore back or the warm bed or whatever tries to keep me from my training sessions. Because someone is counting on me (besides me counting on me) I make it there. In this sense, my desire to please others works to my advantage. My trainer is working on my core balance. Have I mentioned I am uncoordinated on land? Put me in the water, I am a fish, I can do anything and can swim long distances for long periods of time (I once was in deep water doing rescue drills for over 12 hours no problem) but on land, I fall, I stumble, I get hurt. I am just a mess. I have very little balance on land. It is truly sad. SO she is having me do stuff that is so hard! I am so thankful - pushing me outside my comfort balance is a good thing. I have also learned a lot about myself - I really am good on the fly. I listen to her adjustments and follow direction well. I need to remember to make a note of these possitive things as they come because all too often I focus on the negative self talk.

 

That said, I can honestly say working on my core balance has been an amazing thing. I stand taller, I breathe more deeply and my self esteem is increasing. I can feel it on the inside - I am changing.

 

So, my dear friends, if you go to a gym (and I suspect most of us are) please consider a class or a training session to work on your balance. See if you dont feel better, more relaxed and more equipped to handle what life is throwing at you afterwards. That is my possitive plug for today.

Julianne Pierson
275/255/248.8/185/145
start/consult/surgery (june 08)/ NOW!/ my goal - it changed from 150.... I have confidence I can get to 145 by summer? Here's hoping!

The Hormone Guide Women will understand this! Men should memorize it! Every woman knows that there are days when all a man has to do is open his mouth and he takes his life in his hands! This is a handy guide that should be carried like a driver's license in the wallet of every husband, boyfriend, co-worker or significant other! DANGEROUS SAFER SAFEST ULTRA SAFE What's for dinner? Can I help you with dinner? Where would you like to go for dinner? Here, have some wine. Are you wearing that? You sure look good in brown! WOW! Look at you! Here, have some wine What are you so worked up about? Could we be overreacting? Here's my paycheck. Here, have some wine. Should you be eating that? You know, there are a lot of apples left. Can I get you a piece of chocolate with that? Here, have some wine. What did you DO all day? I hope you didn't over-do it today. I've always loved you in that robe! Here, have some wine. 13 Things PMS Stands For 1. Pass My Shotgun 2. Psychotic Mood Shift 3.. Perpetual Munching Spree 4. Puffy Mid-Section 5. People Make me Sick 6. Provide Me Sweets 7. Pardon My Sobbing 8. Pimples May Surface 9. Pass My Sweatpants 10. Pissy Mood Syndrome 11. Plainly, Men Suck 12.. Pack My Stuff and myfavoriteone: 13. Potential Murder Suspect Forward this information to all of your friends and those who might need a good laugh... and men who need a warning. And, have some wine.

As I have mentioned, I am on a support group on line and here was the topic for today. It was so pertinent to me (seeing especially that I have more than one of these trigger issues as a problem for my weight loss journey) that I thought I would share. I know that some people read my posts about weight loss and am flattered. Many people, especially fellow PCOS gals have many of these issues, as I do myself. I just thought it was worth sharing -

 

Katie Jay (a bypass patient) has this paper called "the 10 most common
mistakes weight loss surgery patients make."

http://www.nawls.com/public/333.cfm

She also has a pamphlet called "the 21 most common mistakes weight loss
surgery patients make." Those are:

1. Assuming you are cured of obesity

2. Putting others needs before your own

3. Not taking vitamins, supplements, or minerals

4. Not setting loving limits with yourself

5. Not tracking your own labs (not such a big deal for band patients)

6. Approaching life as a victim

7. Grazing

8. Saying mean and heartless things to yourself

9. Eating the wrong carbohydrates

10. Settling for low self esteem

11. Drinking alcohol

12. Blaming other people for your problems

13. Not eating the right amount of food

14. Not finding new ways to nurture yourself

15. Not drinking enough water

16. Ignoring the food-mood-weight connection

17. Drinking with meals

18. Quitting when you have failed

19. Not exercising consistently

20. Isolating

21. Drinking soda

I would venture to say that about 99% of the time when people are having
problems it's one of those things. There's more; you can order it from
www.nawls.com <http://www.nawls.com/> . However, it's mostly common
sense.

OK the last few are the hardest, right? I mean I KNOW this but it is hard to fathom how I will DO this. I am currently at 185 on my scale (or close to it). My personal goal the day of surgery was 175 - I remember thinking if I could just please God get close to 175 I would be the happiest girl EVER....well now I am close and realize that 175 on a 5'2" frame is still obese. Not cool. Too much work to still be the "fat" Mom at the soccer field's of Stepford Dispair....ha ha ha.....so I have done the following proactive measures:

1. Worked a deal with a personal trainer. She uses me as her guinnea pig, I get training (and a tracker that is my biggest need) and of course early morning workouts OUTSIDE in the rainy woods makes me feel a tad like Rocky....

2. Started tracking my food again. Every bite. Every calorie. AND every step walked, evey bit of exercise or laziness charted. I am on my butt like white on rice....that's right, love handles I am coming to get you and give you your walking papers.

3. Made a deal with my family. If I like it and it is bad for me (like my beloved chips) it is NOT in the house. I know I know I made that deal in the begining and yet somehow those darned chips found their way back in my cart and cuppboard. Those suckers are gone baby gone. I have also bargained a deal with myself and my spouse - no bought lattes except for once a week and only if I am meeting a friend - otherwise it is my cheap home drip (and by cheap I mean calories - at home my coffee is 80 cal. outside the house it is sometimes 200 or more! Watch it at Starbucks, friends - it is a silent killer.)

4. No outside drinks (except for the aformentioned party in a cup on a social exchange visit). I carry my own packets of Crystal Light with me everywhere and when desperate I get a cup of water at the drive through and add my powdery sugar free goodness. If you have your own cup they cannot charge you for water, did you know that? No need to buy expensive bottles anymore.

That is all I have for now - thought I would share - once I write it all out I feel more accountable....I am now shooting for 135/145. That is 40 pounds away. If I loose 2 pounds a week (which is my target) I will get there in 20 weeks - right about February - PLENTY of time o hit it by my anniversary of April 21st - we have our 10 year and I am trying to surprise my hubby with a re-do of our vows in a va va voom dress since our walk down the aisle had me in a size 26 - I look like a cartoon character! I am trying to make it and take him away for a weekend....imagine that....a weekend away alone no kids AND a banging size 7 - Hold on!

Julianne Pierson
275/255/248.8/185/135
Start/consult/surgical date/NOW/goal