Learning more about parenting

My son, who has not lived at home in almost 10 years, is here for the summer between semesters. We had our obligatory arguments and actually we got his "space" organized his way. Luckily I have a separate structure known as a tenderhouse and he is happily settled in there. And now he is working part time and looking for more work to do.

I think I am lucky that we get along so well - but our long winded conversations - mainly about politics - have kept me up beyond my normal bedtimes and I am very off my exercise/work/fun schedule. I think we are past our rough spots and it will be fun and okay. But it's a learning experience. I teach about the lifespan and one newer topic is about grown children returning home. I shall have first hand experience about a piece of this - but I know it helps us both that there is a limited term to this arrangement. He will leave in mid August.

Having a child when you are older has some good points to it - I do things most others my age do not - because we had done them together - like skiing, working out, eating well..all the things have previously mentioned about how to grow older better. Although I read of women in their 50's and 60's getting pregnant; it is not anything I would suggest. If you did not have a child in your late 30's or in your 40's....find a child to play with - teens are okay but well they are teens - or find a young adult and go biking - hanging out with youth will help you grow older better....

Still cycling after all these years

I am loving my cycling class - otherwise known as "spinning." I have improved my stamina so much in a few short weeks. Still can't keep up with the teacher or the others but hey I have decades on them and for me - I am doing GREAT. And I do take my sport supplements before and after - so I recharge quickly with no aches and pains.

Was at a conference this past weekend and am more excited and focused about my wellness business. Among the information imparted was that heavy metal toxicity is related to autism, ADD and Alzheimers. This does not surprise me - we have made the air and soil and water toxic and if so- why should it escape our bodies? We are putting it in the system everyday.

We can change our culture and try to undo our errors but in the interim we can put better foods into our bodies in the form of supplements that deal with the toxins.

We have an increase in the numbers of children diagnosed as autistic and the researchers say they do not know why. We have more kids diagnosed as attention deficit and as we keep aging, we have more persons diagnosed with Alzheimers unless we stop poisoning ourselves.

Cycling - WOW

I have been going to a cycling class. All I can say is WOW - it is a workout. At first I could not do much more than just pedal the bike for the hour - now I can sprint, pedal while standing, do hills and suck air :- ). I still can't keep up with the class for the hour - and I'm not alone in that - but the improvement is rapid...I will keep going - it's twice a week and my goal is to soon be able to stay with the teacher for the whole hour. Told her that too as I know that verbalizing a goal increases the likelihood it will happen.

Besides I feel so good after the class that alone is a reason. I come home energized and get a lot done. I could do this on my own bike but I don't - that's why exercise classes are good - or working out with a friend - you do more!

So where are you in your exercise goals? It's late April but it's never too late to start. Go GO Go.... Your body and mind will be happy - and you will grow older better.

Heathiness

I have recently been reading a lot of research on topics related to the lifespan - mainly as I am teaching that class.

The ones that stick in my mind are those related to obesity. We are becoming such an obese country that the airplanes are widening seats and now children's safety seat makers are having to make bigger seats for the bigger children. Then the newest research is that obese people do not even recognize that they are obese. Only 15 percent of people in this category view themselves as obese. And while the percent of women who are obese has stabilized, a growing percent of men and children are seen as obese.

We are told that obesity leads to many health issues and worsens others...yet we eat away. For many it is a choice - is supersizing and calorie adding good for you just because it is advertised and can be a cheap add on?

Do you know what a normal sized serving is? It's about the size of your fist! So next you are eating a meal look at your fist and then look at your plate....and think about your health!

And please start thinking more seriously about adding supplements to your diet. We do not get enough of the "good stuff" from our food anymore - especially what we need from fruits and vegetables. And also know that we need 5-13 servings of fruit and vegetables a day [depending on your "stay healthy" caloric intake] but we tend to eat only about 3 servings a day! So again - eat well but supplement!

MSG - Monosodium Glutamate

I can't tolerate MSG and avoid it when I can read a label. It makes me dizzy and nauseous. Sometimes after I eat some foods I feel the same way and after reading an email this morning about MSG - I think I know what is going on. MSG or Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein [another name or MSG] is in a lot of food we eat at home or eat in both fast and slow food places. Ask for the ingredient list and see if MSG or Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein is listed in any of the foods on your plate.

What does MSG do? It makes food "taste better." This is from the MSG Facts website.

They tout it as a health benefit especially for older people as it causes them to eat more. I'm not sure I would equate eating more with better nutrition.

What the email I got showed, and which was a greater concern, is that MSG is addictive and is related to obesity. It is akin to nicotine - a known additive that creates an addiction but that no one wants to admit to. It would mean taking on the food industry.

Try this: Go here National Library of Medicine and type in the words "MSG Obesity in the search box." You can then read a few of the over 100 medical studies that appear.