Don’t want to be a statistic? Get your vaccination here…

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Let me preface this.  I won’t be discussing immunizations against flu or any other host of diseases which we inoculate against.  That is not the topic.  Right now, I think it’s time for a shot which dispels world beliefs.

Whatever side you are on regarding vaccinations; anti or pro, is a personal decision.  And I will not be getting caught up in that debate in this post, or in the foreseeable future.   I do however think it’s time to take the bull by the horns; and discuss beliefs which precipitously act upon us.

I recently found myself in a robust debate (which was not my intention) regarding loneliness.  The topic was Loneliness & Social Media.  And while I do feel that social media creates, perpetuates, and skews reality, so does the world with its belief systems.  Let me illustrate.

The moderator was concerned (rightly so) on how loneliness affects health.  It can influence anything from heart disease to dementia, according to statistics.  Now, as I learned long ago statistics are relative; they can be watered down or built up–depending upon the pet or pet peeve of the researcher.  However, I have no reason to doubt loneliness can cause a host of headaches to heartaches.  I’ve seen it play out on many levels in both women and men.

However, my question or “inoculation” to this dilemma is “Who told you that this is or could be an outcome?”  Most of us will spend a good portion of our lives alone, especially as we age.  Does this mean we lose our mental agility?  Or our hearts will malfunction?  It could, if we let it, or let that belief seep in.  Kind of like cracks in an unstable foundation–our beliefs dictate how strong or firm it is; or how weak and leaky it becomes.  That foundation in order to avoid such a fate, must be built on self-efficacy.

At this time the world tells us “you should be happy and with friends and family around the holidays.”  How many of us are really happy to be around certain people during this time of year?  The world and statistics tell us many things. How we choose to react or believe, is up to us.

Loneliness like joy is a choice.  There are those who have lived alone by choice or not, yet do not feel the least bit lonely.  Likewise, there are those who feel lonely in the midst of a crowd.  There are people living behind bars who are free.  And those who live on the most palatial sprawling estates, who feel imprisoned.  Why?  One of the reasons could be is they refuse the world’s tone; they are tone deaf to what the world says they should be.  Yes it’s a double edged sword cutting its path both ways.  Yet why not make it work for you?

If you are alone, unfortunately, you can’t always cultivate or force people to spend time with you.  Sure you can do your part and make yourself available.  But putting out needy vibes often attract those you may not want in your life. The scent of “needy” to some is like blood to a shark.  Not what you want.  What you can do is refuse to defer to what the world says when confronted with this dilemma.  You don’t have to be a statistic.  You may not be able to control the action, but you can control the reaction.

Want a companion?  Be a companion.  Know yourself.  Then you will know what you want, and equally important what you don’t, when it comes along.

Heart disease? Dementia?  Loneliness related?  Perhaps. Inevitable outcome, statistic or none of the above?  YOU DECIDE.

All for now.  Keep up and keep at it.

 

Do our conceptions about the foods we eat make or break us…I think so

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Get rid of this.  Eat more protein, less carbs.  Cut out soda.  Cut out soy.  Eat soy.  Cut out sugar, switch to a substitute.  No, sugar substitutes are worse for you than the sugar.  Is it any wonder why many just say FORGET IT, PEACE OUT.

I have to give credit where credit is due.  What I’m saying isn’t original, and will post where I derived this idea later.

What you give power to becomes a law unto yourself, your body, and your psyche.  

Consider the foods we eat for example.  Every bite of food we take (or don’t) carries the current conception regarding what we’ve been told.  And with that, what comes out reflects the trend.  We are being told currently that carbs are the enemy.  So for the most part we limit, avoid, or straight up not eat them whenever possible.  Or, we pay the price–fat gain, insulin resistance, etc.  This is essentially what we are being told, for now at least.

You can find a lot out there to support this ideology.  You can find just as much which states this is cherry-picked data and not credible.  Anyone, anywhere, at anytime can hand pick what supports her/his pet project,   Think about when you were in school–whether grammar, HS, or college.  Recall for a moment, that ominous overwhelming paper you had to complete.  I remember mine; it was on renal transplant.  KIDNEY TRANSPLANTS:  ARE THEY FOR EVERYONE?  Kidney transplants are the goal–especially if you are a CKD(chronic kidney disease) patient on dialysis.  After all, who wants to be hooked up to a machine 4-6 hours every other day to filter your blood of toxins (what your kidneys do) until you receive a kidney?  Post dialysis, many become fatigued and must rest for the day.  You certainly, if you are a CKD patient, must limit your fluid intake; from both foods as well as fluids.  So a day in the life of this person can become challenging, and quite jaded.

I recall when writing my paper, citing instances where kidney transplant may not be suitable for all in this predicament.  Why?  What about those who continuously abuse drugs?  Have not received help for their addiction?  If this is how they lost kidney function, why give them a transplant?  Especially with the lengthy waiting list? They would not take care of it I felt.  So why give it to someone who will just repeat the behavior which landed them on dialysis in the first place?  That was my logic, and I had the data and rationale to back it up.  I also posed the question whether age should be a qualifier or disqualifier.  Again, these were questions I raised in my paper designed to test whether transplants were for anyone and everyone on dialysis.  And of course, I could not submit my work without the resources, references, tables, and research to back up what I said.  The paper received high marks, partially because it was unique in questioning prevailing thinking.

And that’s what I’m doing now.  I’m questioning prevailing thought.  If I were to revisit that paper, I’d probably find mitigating factors which would qualify those I thought disqualified, awaiting or wanting a transplant.  The “I” in my ideas has evolved.

That is growth.

We all must come into that season of growth–not just allow mind and body to reflect and regurgitate what we’ve been told.  Do your homework, see what works for you, not a someone somewhere.  Question the data.  If you are not proactive, then you allow mind and body to become reactive.  That could be better today; but what will it be tomorrow?

 

All for now.  Keep up and keep at it.

Questions? Comments?  Contact me at serrenity.c@gmail.com

High protein low carb diet…not from my perspective

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healthy living waterfall

This is a post which I have republished a few times.  However, with the continuation of high protein diets, I think I need to do it again.

I feel the need to re post, because of the attention and bad press carbs have received.  No, I’m not saying to fill your plate with fettucine alfredo, ask for seconds on the bread basket, or have that extra donut.  Skip the donut–at least for today.

High protein low carb diets are reaching epidemic proportion.  And yes, there is a reason I’m borrowing this phrase.  From sugary snacks touted as “high protein, low carb,” to ridiculous amounts of meat only consumption, it’s time to put forth a few facts.  Then, you decide.

Have to preface this with a disclaimer.

As a former dialysis nurse, I am somewhat reserved and dubious about protein intake; especially HIGH PROTEIN INTAKE. True enough, most reading this are not in renal (kidney) failure. Protein must be moderated for those suffering from renal insufficiency. However, it makes me consider the overly paraded cascade of high protein consumption.

CREATININE

Creatinine is a test used to diagnose renal (kidney) function. It can be increased in those who ingest large amounts of meat. Yes, it is only elevated slightly and can be transient–but my question is this. What happens if it is continually elevated, because that’s the majority of the person’s diet? Can the kidneys keep up with this demand?

BUN

Blood, Urea, Nitrogen (BUN) measures the amount of urea and nitrogen in your blood. So what’s that supposed to mean? Well, urea is the end product of PROTEIN metabolism. During a meal, protein breaks down into amino acids. In your liver, these amino acids are catabolized and free ammonia is formed. These molecules combine and form urea, which is deposited into blood, and given over to the kidneys to excrete (rid themselves of). Again, if this is 60-70% (or more) of a person’s diet, now what?

(Source: Mosby’s Manual of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests–3rd edition)

QUESTIONING; NOT DEBATING

I did preface this with my bias. Of course protein diets will help with weight loss. So will smoking. For years women swore by smoking to curb their appetite. Many still do. And while I’m really not trying to compare the two, there is an article which does.

http://www.healthline.com/health-news/food-high-protein-diet-increases-mortality-risk-030414

No, I’m not a vegan, nor do I plan to become one. My palate expresses no desire for bean paste or tofu. I love my chicken, ribs, and steak. BUT, this does not represent my primary or elevated intake. Fish? Forget it for me. I hate fish. However, with the advent and subsequent takeoff of high protein diets being touted, it raises questions. Sure there are other sources of protein; never said there weren’t. But HIGH protein with mitigated or very low carb ratio, can and does have consequences. Many of them numerous, and beyond the scope of what’s discussed in this blog. Need a little more convincing? Ok.

http://www.health24.com/Diet-and-nutrition/Weight-loss/The-dangers-of-high-protein-slimming-diets-20120721

What I’ve always taught, both patients and students is this: Be mindful not just of outcome, but of rationale (the “why” and reason behind an action) Rationale for me, must represent all of the following–cause, relationship, and effect. Yes, these diets will cause you to lose weight. Yes, that is your desired outcome. But what of the other components; relationship and effect?

You be the judge.

All for now. Keep up and keep at it.

Questions? Comments? More info? Contact me at serrenity.c@gmail.com

 

Glad this is FINALLY GETTING SOME ATTENTION..

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Diabetes. High blood pressure or hypertension.  Kidney disease.  What are these?  Is there a common denominator?  There can be.

Recently, the White House signed an executive order aimed at defraying the cost of kidney treatment; i.e. dialysis.

However, if you were to ask the casual observer or listener “how exactly do you wind up on dialysis?” few would know.  Unless they themselves or close relative or friend utilized dialysis, they would be hard pressed to answer.

Do you know?

For most of my nursing career, this was my specialty.  All apologies to those of you who’ve heard this story before.

Over the next couple of posts, I will be touching on the topics of diabetes, hypertension, and how they can be major players in kidney disease.  After all, it is a direct lead in to why I do what I do today.

So, if this is something that is of interest to you, or you have been diagnosed with any or all of these, stay tuned.  This ride, I promise won’t be as bumpy.  After all, if you are living with any of these, your ride is bumpy enough.

 

All for now.  Keep up and keep at it.

 

Questions? Comments? Contact me at serrenity.c@gmail.com

 

 

Perception reception

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What is the measure of how we see ourselves?

Mirror?  Opinions of those we trust?  Distrust? The scale?  An article of clothing?  Our five senses?  It is indeed all of these, even if we don’t realize it.  Now, this is not an indictment of how we see ourselves.  It is a “bringing to attention.”

If we look to the horizon on a body of water, that is our perception.  The setting sun sinking into the water.  Yet we soon outgrow that, once a parent or teacher tells explains what’s really happening.  Our eyes continue to testify to something different.  Yet if we were to swim out to try & touch this setting sun, it would be elusive. Why?  It is a perception not based in reality.  It is a vibratory interpretation–a mix of light & color being bounced, reflected & refracted to & through our eyes.

Think about this phenomenon as you make your way through your day.  How you see yourself, interpreted by the lens of what the world reflects & refracts back to you, may need a little alteration.  It is not meant to provide you with excuse or exoneration.  Nor is it meant for you to trust or distrust critiques or praise given to you.  What is it meant for?  That’s a good question.  And the answer for me at least, is to THINK.

 

Some of this will be part of my podcast series on SELF EFFICACY.

All for now.  Keep up and keep at it.

Questions?  Comments?  Contact me at serrenity.c@gmail.com

 

 

 

It’s getting to be that time of year again….

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It’s beginning to look a lot like…no not Christmas.  That’s come & gone for the year.  No, this has to do with the ritualistic obsession we have with the NEW YEAR, NEW YOU premise.

We’ve all made them.  You know those resolutions we love to hate, & often negate 2 weeks into the new year.  From tidying up our lives, organizing our finances, to the ever continuing saga of weight, here we go again.

What is so beguiling about this ritual, that we keep doing it over & over, with limited or mixed results?  Is it the idea of a fresh start?  We begin a new day, each & every day.  But few of us see this as a new or fresh start.  We aerate our lungs 12-24 times per minute.  This is rarely seen as a shining beginning.  Yet it is, & if you have ever struggled with breathing or shortness of breath, this is something you really don’t take for granted.

If exercise, cognitive nutrition, or seeing the scale numbers descend instead of ascend are part of your goals, consider this:  What exactly will change?  Perhaps making a list before going to the grocery store?  Meal planning?  Keeping a food diary?  What types of exercise do you find appealing?  If the answer is none, we can talk.  How many times per week can you commit to an exercise routine?  For how long?  Lastly, are you caught up in the trends?  Gluten free?  Low carb, no carb, high protein?  Coconut oil? These are just a few.  I could easily go on for another paragraph, perhaps even another post.

Perhaps, this year IS the year; for whatever you wish to achieve, to finally take shape.  I can tell you this however, it takes more than a little commitment, and answering the above questions.  It takes a change.  Not just effort–change.  Well what does THAT MEAN?

It’s the motto which appears on my logo, as well as the signs on my JEEP.  CHANGE YOUR MIND, NOT JUST YOUR BODY.  For that to occur, SOMETHING has to rise up in you.  And not just rise up, SUSTAIN YOU.  That SOMETHING won’t care whether you ever make it into a size 4 jean, or get into a bikini.  That may be nice, or an added benefit, but it won’t sustain you; at least not in the long-term.  When that SOMETHING takes hold though, you will know it.

Perhaps, it may even prompt you to give me a call, or drop me an email.  After all, it’s what I do.

 

Like what you see?  Then you’ll love what you hear.  LIFE TRAINING WITH CRYSTAL will be going podcast.  I will still continue writing,  This is just another venue, as well as a new venture.  I hope to have it as part of this blog, for easy access.  More to come.

 

Questions?  Comments?  Contact me at serrenity.c@gmail.com