Primal Journal - Pam page 66

[Siobhan]

That hair! How old is he? What is his favorite veg?

[lopisheep]

Yes, you should see it when it's down and not braided and the sun hits it.

He's 19 (as of August 19th).

His very favorite vegetable is kale. He eats it daily:-) He bruises it and then puts scrumptious things on it.

Oh, he is six feet tall -- one reason why he's thin, I bet. He could still get taller, I think. DH is almost 6'6".

That hair! How old is he? What is his favorite veg?

[Candy in Wonderland]

Wow! Am I sounding like the mother hen defending her chick, ecks?

You sound like a proud mom!

[Judg]

That's not attacking, just pointing things out.

Astigmatism is correctable with glasses at least. It's a flattened spot on the surface of the eye, causing some distortion in vision. Very common, but annoying. Yes, I have some astigmatism too. Not that I ever think about it much. Too used to it, I guess.

Have you gone out to get yourself some new clothes yet? Yes, I'm nagging. We should never treat ourselves worse than we'd treat someone else and I'm sure you would never insist on anybody else you loved surviving with one pair of pants. When Jesus said, "Love your neighbour as yourself" it does rather imply that we have to know how to love ourselves too. There is nothing selfish or materialistic or superficial about having enough and rejoicing in it. Insisting on too much as a right is another kettle of fish, but that obviously is not your problem here.

[Judg]

Judg! I got three used flannel shirts and eight -- yes eight -- pair of Smart Wool socks. They (Smart Wool socks) are normally about 16.00 each. I got each pair -- very slightly used -- for 1.99. So eight pair for the price of one. Also got a nice used sweater vest. Score!! 30.00 for the whole kit and caboodle! Then I ordered some used books when I got home. Gosh, I'm good:-)

Ok. If I can't fit in the next size down by my birthday, I'll break down and get another pair of jeans:-)

Working on finding migraine triggers. Cutting out foods that make me feel tired as those seem to be the triggers. Feeling really good about the food I'm eating. "No foods" are -- so far -- nightshades, all rice, beans, lentils, nuts, seeds, fermented, pickled and wheat. Haven't really given wheat a fair test but it's just too iffy -- besides not being primal. I know wheat pasta doesn't work nor wheat with yeast so, yes, I'll just nix it and not go through the bother of figuring out possible combinations. I figure the foods should work in any combo. So, for example, peaches work all ways, so they can be eaten. It's only if they make me feel tired that I nix them. Going to keep adding various foods little by little. I'll check my weight on the 30th and readjust, if necessary. No migraines yet since I started doing this.

I think finding the migraine triggers during this time of the year (migraine time for me) is really going to help. Should have done this years ago! I just have to remember to go slowly!

Good for you! Both for the clothes and for getting methodical in your food experimentation. But when is your birthday? If it's close, I'll cut you some slack. LOL! But I will give you advance notice: the next step will be wrapping your head around the idea that it is not only okay, it is very, very good for your mental health to feel pretty sometimes. Which just might mean expanding your horizons beyond flannel shirts. You know, you've had enough things beating up on you in life, you don't have to be one of them. Find ways to be good to yourself. You've started with food (and setting boundaries) but there are other ways to be kind to yourself. Explore them. It's not selfish or superficial. Only if it gets off-balance. And if you take better care of yourself, treat yourself with more kindness and respect, you'll be in a better position to treat others well, coming from a position of strength. We don't have to be at our goal weight to find clothing that makes our heart sing. And that happiness inside will splash over onto others. Win-win. Honestly, I wish I had had someone telling me that ten years ago. I needed to hear it.

[Coll]

Hey Pam, glad you seem to be making progress on the migraine side of things! Keep the pace slow and steady ... no rushing, don't want to wreck the good work you are getting done!

Glad you got some clothes! I like the sound of the flannel shirts so comfortable and cozy for chilly days that are coming! My DH loves the Smart Wool socks - so does DD. I should probably try some - my feet tend to get hot and sweaty except in the coldest weather. When is your birthday? I am holding out until I am another size down before I get jeans... am hoping that maybe I could order some nice lined jeans from LL Bean once I get to that point. But, I wonder how clever it is to get new clothes that I will, hopefully, be too small for in a few months time. May just have to bite the bullet once I get slim enough and try the local goodwill.

Your son is cute - I'd like to see his hair down! I really don't think Ecks was trying to attack him though! We are always sensitive when it comes to our kids - he may be really healthy now, but in the long term the lack of animal fat and animal protein will show up. Glad he does get some eggs, unfortunately there are just too many studies that show how essential cholesterol etc are to our long term health. Even getting regular raw milk would be a huge help - and nothing gets killed or abused in the process... I know of people who are otherwise total vegetarians except for the raw milk and eggs and they are wonderfully healthy, and their conscience is clear if that is something that troubles them. My son has a hard time with eating meat, not all kinds or all the time but it is definitely an issue for him. But he gets plenty of eggs and raw milk so I don't worry about it. Just my two cents

[lopisheep]

Coll, I'm glad you think my son is cute. I'll try to get a picture of him on here with his hair down.

Oh, he's a vegetarian not a vegan. Did I confuse people? He eats eggs, yogurt, some cheese, and even milk and ice cream sometimes.

I was the one who was vegan:-) Didn't mean to confuse anyone! Wish we could get raw milk here.

Oh, I love those lined jeans. Unfortunately, Vancouver never gets that cold. I'll probably end up using the Smart Wool socks as slippers, since I often go through the winter with heavy duty sandals and cotton socks. About every 4-5 years we get a snow that needs shoveling -- and, believe me, I'm the first one shoveling -- not like the old days in New Hampshire!!

[Coll]

My other problem with the lined jeans is that I can only wear them at home as most people keep their houses so hot I feel as though I am going to expire within minutes of walking in! I think part of the problem is that I grew up in a country where we did not have central heating - it is nowhere near as cold as most parts of the USA but believe me it is chilly during the winter months! You just put more layers on and sleep under more blankets I can remember in the mornings pulling my school uniform into bed with me so it could warm up a little before getting dressed. Brrr!

Sorry, for some reason I had got the impression that your son was vegan - don't really know why...

I did a bit of reading up about the stevia thing that you mentioned... however, I have my doubts as to the 'research' behind it. Stevia has been used for a looooonnnng time by the local tribes with no side effects. It seems to me that there may be some upset on the part of the folks who would lose some of their profit if folk went to using something like stevia. I am talking about pure stevia ... some of it has had various things added to it. Guess I will wait and see. I am open to getting rid of it if it seems that it may be a problem. But, I have used it for months with no obvious side effects at all, and I have such tiny amounts that I have a hard time believing that it is bad for me... Plus, I use it every day in the morning, surely I would be bloated every day then? Mmm, will keep my eyes open for more information though. The various people who ok stevia seem pretty reliable, whereas the folk who are doing the 'scare tactics' on stevia seem to be less than unbiased... Don't know is my thought for now...

[lopisheep]

My oldest keeps her house at about 100, it seems like. She doesn't even use air conditioning when it's hot out. But, as I tell her, she can put more clothes on -- or blankets which I give her when she's here -- but I can only take so much off:-) I always thought central air would be hideous. Everybody would have to have the same temperature.

Yes, I know what you mean about scare research and the FDA. I was just hoping it was something fairly simply that would magically cure the bloat.

[Judg]

You enjoy your shirts, Pam! There's nothing at all wrong with warm and practical. Just nothing wrong with pretty once in a while too. Here's cheering for your smile.

Okay, I'll give you till October 30th. LOL! But no more... Tell you what. If your other jeans don't fit by then, you can go out a buy a skirt instead of more pants. And a pretty blouse to go with it. Skirts tend to be more forgiving of size than pants.

Hey, as long as you're learning to be good to yourself, and find ways to feel good about yourself, I won't quibble.

And yeah, if your son is getting milk and eggs, that should solve a lot of the problems. You might look into Vitamin B supplements too. Seems to me some of those are only found in meat. And it's less crucial for guys, but iron deficiency can also be an issue for non-meat eaters.

Did I miss something? It was my understanding that stevia had a clean bill of health.