New Horizons

Well ok maybe the title is pushing it a little. When I say "new horizons", I'm talking about putting some old things on the back burner and putting time into things I wish I would do or better yet, should do. My whole problem is, though it sounds good, I have a hard time executing. I think I get it from my Dad.
 So I am working on putting the computer games down and spending time else where!  Don't get me wrong games are like books you can play. They are fine in a lot of ways. Now I have to fill that time with something else.

 I am learning that I like to grill. I grilled brats the other day for my Mom and Rich. I boiled them in beer and water and they came out nice and juicy. I grilled burgers tonight , though they were good, I want to make a great burger. One that makes you go "WOW!"      



 Then of course, with help from a friend, I have renewed my love for music. I have had it in my mind for a long, long time to learn guitar. Seeing how drums aren't practical right now, guitar is the next best thing. I don't need to be a wailing axe man, but just a guy that plays the occasional acoustic song. Kind of like around the camp fire. Really the only thing holding me back is......ME!                  

                                                                             

Smoothness

So I talked a while back about smoothies being very beneficial for me. Obviously when you throw fruits or veggies in a blender it breaks them way down. In my situation with Crohn's it allows me to get nutrients that I may otherwise have trouble with. Here are some smoothies that I came up with the last few days

 Sunday: Strawberries, Banana, and Spinach with vanilla yogurt, a little milk and RAW protien. I don't really measure anything out.

    

Monday was: Raspberries, Kiwi and Spinach with vanilla yogurt, and a little milk. I also add ice to all smoothies.

                                                                                                          Of course at the center of it is......

This smoothie maker rocks!!!

Time to get Focused

Since vacation, we have been slacking in the fitness area. Now that sports schedule has slowed down some, Melissa and I can get refocused on our routines. For me, dealing with Crohn's is much easier when I am active and eating right. For her its about self esteem. As much as we enjoy taking walks together, we each have our own plans. Melissa mostly enjoys cardio, for me I need cardio and strength.
 Today I hit the weights. I need to be more aggressive in achieving muscle failure. I'm never going to be a bulging mass of muscle and don't really want to be. I am more for high reps and toning. As the weather stays nice, time outside is critical. I have wood to split so that will be a goal, plus it mixes up the same old same old. I may set up stations outside for an added twist. Putting the time into fitness helps keep stress low and I feel more productive.
 Everybody has their own ways of staying grounded and happy. Some its crafts and art, some its social media, some its church, some its music, some its a mixture of all of the above. Its all about living life to the fullest and enjoying it along the way. So what you enjoy.

Update

Well, before my recent vacation, I went to my doctor for the follow up to the E.R visit. He agreed with me that now is not the time for Prednisone. This makes me very happy. Vacation went well up through Friday before we came home. I wasn't having any problems. I had a half of a flank steak at our elegant inner .I believe this is what gave me some issues. We had steak again the first Tuesday we were home. That gave me same pain issues almost right away. It hung with me for a few days. I'm still having little pain issues but nothing major.

 I have not been working out or as active since being home. I also haven't been making smoothies as much. So bottom line, I need to get back to it. Doe exercise really help? Do smoothies really help? I believe that smoothies really do help. Everything is already broke down so it makes digestion that much easier. Also, it may be time to limit steak or try very lean cuts. If I have to become a fish and chicken man that's fine by me.

Its War!

Last week Tuesday I went into the E.R for what I thought might be an appendix issue.Turned out it was a Crohn's flare, which I figured but wanted to be safe. At the end of the visit, the E.R doc with the help of a GI doc decided to prescribe Prednisone, I want no part of this steroid. I do not think I need it. So this made me very unhappy. Note: I have not gotten the prescription filled.
 Fast forward to Sunday. As I googled "how to cut an avocado". I ran across something in an article. The basic message was to prove out the need for vegan diets. There was a statement in there that got me to thinking. Generally it suggested that there had been an increase with Cancer, Crohn's, Ulceratvie Colitis in people that eat cooked high fat and high protein diets. I to some extent agree. I think it mostly comes from genetically engineered meats and things. That is just my feeling, I have no proof.
 This got my wheels turning big time. I have a friend at work the suggested sometime ago to try Raw Protein powder to give my body a more natural way to recover from my workouts. Raw Protein is completely organic with the protein coming from numerous sprouts and things.The one thing he said that stood out that it has probiotics. What are probiotics you ask, and am I glad you did. Probiotics are basically the good bacteria in your intestine that help support your digestive system. From what I have read Crohn's patients that have inreased their probiotic intake have had reduced symptoms. I did not say cure but reduced symptoms. This starts my mission and it is war!
 So far it has only been three consecutive days since committing to this self trial. Each day I have had the Raw Protein in smoothies, that have had included, strawberries, blueberries, black and raspberries, bannana, kiwi, apple or any combination, I also add yogurt and splenda. I have had reduced pain, more energy, less bathroom visits, just overall better feeling. Tuesday I had some pain after dinner but I think that was because of broccoli. It was fine Wednesday morning. I am taking my Imuran also. Again this is just three days of results, I will continue this mission. It is not my intent to give false hope. It is my intent to prove there is hope away from to many medications. I will post another update after vacation.

Working Out

So, work has been terribly busy. To the point where I come home very frustrated and stressed. Don't get me wrong I am thankful we are busy. Its a good problem to have. Anyhow, I have felt the need to manage that stress in a positive way. Its nice to read when I can relax but I can't read when my stress is out of control. So that leaves working out.

 It used to be I had a handful of workouts I like to do. It starts to get old after a while. Now I've taken those workouts and incorporated the Bowflex (resistance) with dumbbells (dead weight). At pretty good weight (100 lbs resistance) 25 lb(dumbbells) amounts and I try to get more than 10 reps per set for 3-4 sets. I found that I hit muscle failure much quicker. Sometimes I will throw in fast paced med ball exercises between sets. This keeps my heart rate up and blood flowing. See I have so much pent up energy by the time I get done I feel good about what I just did.

 As far as cardio goes, every other day, it has been treadmill programs and increasing the speed to challenge myself. Sometimes its the recumbent bike with programs and pushing hard with it goes to high resistance. I haven't been able to put together full weeks. I'm starting to become ok with that because it is Christmas and because I am older and don't want to over do it.

 I try to keep motivated with custom playlists on my Ipod. I don't listen to angry music, it gives me a headache. But upbeat, high energy tunes. There are points in some songs that give me that extra boost when I need it. At cool down I will listen to classic guitar, or light Christian music. This helps me to reflect a little bit and appreciate everyone around me.

Thanksgiving

As I see all the posts on what people are thankful for, it got me to thinking a little. Everyone has their own little things that they are thankful for, family, seems to be the most popular and rightfully so. I want to open some thought to the bigger picture.
 It is easily forgotten why we have a Thanksgiving holiday. I see no one, myself included, giving thanks for God giving Columbus , then the Pilgrims, the guidance to sail over here. I mention God first because nothing happens without Him. The Pilgrims started the whole Thanksgiving day tradition, yet there is not any mention of being Thankful to them. There is never any mention of thankfulness to Washington, Jefferson and the rest of the writers of the Constitution, never any thankfulness to the revolution. These are things that helped gain our freedom from the British. I never hear any thanks for Harriet Tubman and the under ground railroad, I hardly ever any thanks to our WWII vets, that were the nail in the coffin of Hitler. We are finally starting to get it with thanking our current troops, and protecting us from people that just plain hate us.

Again this is not pointed at anyone, but everyone. How often do you really look at history and are thankful for sacrifices that have been made? Would we be where we are at if these things did not happen? Just  trying to start some thoughts this Thanksgiving.