(Sharing with you today an oldie-but-goodie rerun!) Making the choice, and the concentrated effort, to eat healthier has many obvious good effects. However, some of you may be wondering, “What are the negative consequences of eating healthier?” I am here … Continue reading
We find ourselves in an unprecedented situation, with unexpected consequences. While we all do our best to avoid getting Covid-19, our general health (mental and physical) is deteriorating.
Some of us are gaining weight like mad. In order to pass the time and find enjoyment in this time of reduced activity, we all decided to start baking like mad (hence, the temporary yeast shortage in the stores). This was partly because restaurants were shut down (and even now continue to be somewhat inconvenient). Home food preparation is back in vogue once again. Many bakers even dusted off the old bread machines, and put them to work after a LONG furlough. Overall, this is a good trend, but I propose that we got a little carried away with the making of desserts. Our family has always been an eat-at-home gang. It saves money, fosters good family relationships, and (generally speaking) it’s healthier to prepare your own meals from scratch. However, I was bored, so I started making my own, gluten-free soft pretzels. Then I made a cheesecake, which I hadn’t attempted in years, and a few batches of brownies. Luckily for me, dishwashing is my least favorite activity, so I soon gave up on the baking (but made sure to keep a good back stock of my favorite dark chocolate on hand!). However, based on photos I’ve seen on social media, many folks kept going with the rich desserts – pies of all sorts, cookies of every variety, and cakes that would make Betty Crocker look lackadaisical.
Then, as the lockdown continued, and a state of ennui settled on our souls, people fought the continued struggle with backyard family picnics, movie nights, and theme parties, all centered on yummy, home-cooked foods. Mixed in here and there was an occasional walk in the neighborhood or hike in the park, but soon it became too swelteringly hot for those kinds of recreation. And, since work-out facilities are all, by and large, still in full lockdown mode, our exercise sessions became fewer and further between. I’ve heard through the news media grapevine that indoor exercise equipment and outdoor recreation equipment are much more expensive now, and often hard to find. I read a news story in early August about how more and more people are looking to purchase bikes, camping gear, hiking gear, fishing equipment, and kayaks. That same month there was another story about a ridiculous surge in the purchase of home fitness equipment. Dumbbells and other hand weights are out of stock, as well as cardio training supplies, treadmills and exercise bikes! This is a good sign, and hopefully a reversal of the weight gain trend.
We were lucky in our part of the country. By the time we were in full-blown lockdown, we were enjoying one of the mildest springs we’ve experienced in years. Long walks in the neighborhood (chatting with neighbors as they worked on their lawns) kept me sane and healthy. When the heat and humidity settled in, I had my little treadmill in the basement to turn to (that I bought used for $50 about 2 years ago) which gave me an exercise back-up plan. For someone who is prone to anxiety, it turns out that I’ve had a really good year, with the only stress coming from my youngest daughter’s wedding & reception (which turned out to be lovely, and lots of fun, with no Covid-19 spread whatsoever from our gathering!).
So if you haven’t already started, it’s time, NOW, to get serious about exercising for overall health improvement. Not only will you feel better, but your body may be better equipped to fight off the serious side-effects of the Covid virus.
An article on everydayhealth.com has this to say:
“Research shows that an antioxidant enzyme we produce when exercising (the antioxidant extracellular superoxide dismutase, aka “EcSOD”) may stave off or lessen the risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). ARDS is one of the complications that people with COVID-19 can develop, and it is associated with a higher death rate from the disease.” And we all know that endorphins are also released during exercise, which aids in good mental heath. Exercise is a win-win pastime!
With the end of Daylight Savings Time on our doorstep, and the cooler temperatures of fall creeping in through the door frames, don’t delay any longer! Dust off those bikes, research local parks, wipe the cobwebs off the jump ropes, work on those dance moves, or go outside. Find what your heart desires in energetic pursuits, cut back on the desserts, and ease your way back to active, healthy living (and, if needed, check out local thrift stores for indoor exercise equipment). Staying busy and healthy makes life grand, even during a pandemic!
Today’s my usual day to set up the menus for the coming week, and compose the corresponding list of food staples I’ll need to hunt down during Tuesday’s foraging expedition. When folks get to be my age, they usually simplify … Continue reading
As a kid, when you were burned by a sparkler mishap or a hot Pop Tart, did your mom (or grandma) put butter on the burn site? Didn’t you just feel like a piece of burnt toast? You were still … Continue reading
grandma's coffee soup 