Maybe it’s the New Year. Maybe it’s that New Year’s Day and the 2nd, I had two of the worst migraines I’ve had in months. Maybe it’s finally sunk in that I’m 40, and will be in my 40s for the next decade.
But over the last weekend, I just became really interested in what to do to make my body run better. My energy has been way off for awhile. The headaches aren’t as frequent as they used to be, but when they come, they’re real headbangers. I don’t know for sure or anything, but statistically, I’m peri-menopausal. This whole mid-life thing is kind of looking like a ball of suck, physical-wise.
I’m also genetically pre-disposed to not take anything lying down. People in my family just have an overwhelming urge to fix things. So I just can’t take the feeling crappy lying down anymore.
So. Off to the bookstore.
I bought a couple of books and a magazine about fixing my diet. One of them is malady directed (Back pain? Do this. Eczema? Do that. Though the author, Gillian McKeith, has obviously not found a dietary solution for being a bossy harridan), and has all the fervor and conviction of an Old Testament prophet – thou SHALT. The other is that book by Jessica Seinfeld about sneaking vegetables into your kid’s diet. And since it’s my inner child that I’m battling about getting veggies in, I figured this might be a good way to fake the little runt out. The magazine is just healthy food porn. You know, pictures of the lovely food that you’ll be eating that will taste soooo good you won’t even notice that it’s all natural, fat-free, salt-free, sugar-free, blah-blah-free. And I’m just going to choose to believe that, in spite of all the evidence of everything that I’ve ever eaten.
Right now, I’m humbled enough that I’ll take sage advice. Tell me what to do, and I’ll do it. I suppose, in the fullness of time, I’ll have to add some exercise in there too. If I must. Sigh. One thing at a time. At the moment, I’m feeling that brand-new-day willingness to reform. But I don’t really think I can be good all at once. Just add it to the list. I’ll get to it. Sometime this year. . .
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
10 comments:
All of this sounds great (I think), but what are "vegetables"?
Migraine headaches are no picnic. They can be caused by several different factors, one of which is diet. That might be one of the causes for yours.
Things will improve for you. The "forties" shouldn't suck.
Hey, Glo! Happy New Year!
I know, right? Vegetables. Can't live with them. And you can't live well without them. Bugger. One of Mother Nature's little funnies.
I know, after all these years, that I have multiple migraine triggers (blood sugar, hormones, air pressure, stress, somebody in Siberia looks funny in my direction). But a lot of what I'm reading is saying that if you straighten out your diet, the other factors may not hit you as hard. Worth a shot.
I agree. I don't think hitting the 40 hill, means that it's just one long slow side. It's not a foregone conclusion. I'm ready to put up my dukes and fight this one out.
My headaches were not triggered by stress, but other factors,including heredity, and now I'm wondering about that person in Siberia. Hmmmm.
A very Happy New Year to you!!
I asked for and got that book (about sneaking veggies) for Christmas. I don't have kids but I am terrible about eating my veggies. I like them, but they don't have the appeal of dessert or a really good main dish so I tend to not make them when I cook. I want to sneak them in my own food so I will eat them (btw, having my GM-soaked sweet potatoes right now for lunch/dinner at work).
I had ONE migrane about 5 years ago. I was in Vegas and it took me out for the night. I haven't had one since. However, Mike who never had them before my incident, now gets them every couple of months. Maybe I passed it over to him? Wierd, huh?
The frozen veggie purees that you have on hand to throw in your cooking was especially appealing to me. I'm thinking roasted, smushed sweet potato is going to end up in a lot of my food.
My sister has had about 2 headaches in her entire life. And only one migraine. They're such a part of my existence, it really blows my mind (ha!) that some people don't get any at all.
Don't get me wrong, I get headaches but I don't get migranes.
What was wierd was I developed allergies in my 20s and suffered with a runny nose, sinus headache, etc. every spring/fall. However, I noticed that during chemo and for about 6 months after, I had NO allergy problems at all. Chemo must have sent my allergies on the run. I always thought of chemo as napalm - burning everything down in its path.
My big fear is that it's one of the big four allergens in my diet (wheat, milk, soy, corn). If you're even a little sensitive to one of those, it can throw your whole system off balance, and the other stuff won't resolve until you cut it out completely. I'm going to try EVERYTHING else on the planet before I go to eliminating wheat or milk. No French bread or coffee with milk would just kill me.
my migraines are monthly and hormone-related - they starting just a few years back - isn't getting older grand? - when is menopause coming?
if it IS your diet and you can at all avoid them by changing what you eat - consider yourself way lucky
I have already been through menopause once and I am not looking forward to going through it again. Run for the hills, ladies. Run for the hills. It is NOT pretty.
My first migraine occured the year of my first period. Not a coincidence, I think. But it never seems to be just one thing that gets me. I can have my period and no migraine. I can have bad nutrition or poor sleep for awhile and no migraine. The air pressure can drop like a rock and no migraine. But put two of those things together, and my chances sky rocket.
Diet, stress and sleep are things I can control (more or less). And as menopause looms, those are three things that will probably help as well. No more excuses. Eat better. Sleep with purpose. And chill out!
Post a Comment