Vegan Diet Experiment

My close friends and certainly my immediate family know that I have TERRIBLE PMS symptoms.  I track my cycle and put red exclamation marks on the calendar so that my poor husband gets fair warning.  We've known each other for 23 years and he still sometimes asks what's wrong.  It's like he's taken by surprise every 26 days of the year, poor fella.  I've tried all kinds of things to alleviate it -- birth control pills, progesterone cream, calcium, B vitamins, exercise, avoiding chocolate/sugar.  The calcium and B vitamins do help as does avoiding sweets and chocolate. 

OK so here's where I think the vegan diet might come in.  I've been doing the low fat vegan thing for about a month now and I noticed that I hardly had any PMS symptoms.  I don't know if it's because I'm not eating many refined carbs or just a blip in my hormonal makeup.  (Actually, Robbie said he did notice that I was a little irritable one day).  But there was no hysterical yelling at anyone to hurry up and do anything.  No screaming about clothes on the floor.  No children crying and going to their "happy place" til Mommy calms down.  (OK, I exaggerate a little--there's usually no crying and "happy place" visits).  But still, I had the cleaners coming (which usually means we're all in Def Con 4 mode), Robbie went out of town for two bedtimes (which is how we measure his absence) and I still held it together!  Truly remarkable.  So I'm thinking that it has something to do with the change in my eating.  So I'm suggesting that other women who are similarly plagued by PMS try this whole lowfat vegan thing for a month and see if they have similar results.

Am I back to normal?

This is an excellent question and one that I hear every now and then.  My first reaction when I hear it is to say yes. I'm all better and back to normal.  But I don't think that's entirely true/accurate.  First, what IS my normal?  Tired? Happy? Doing all my normal errands?  I'm doing my normal stuff like grocery shopping, laundry, taking kids to lessons, playdates, cooking (such as it is) and dishes (Robbie doesn the Lion's share).  But I don't do as many things in a day I don't think.  And I get really tired at night sometimes.  And my exercising is not as vigorous as it was before.  Often I don't feel like going out in the evening.  I'm a little afraid to eat out at restaurants (I'm thinking this is actually a rational response--I've looked at the nutrition information and we should ALL be afraid to eat out at most restaurants).  My chest still hurts a little sometimes and there are large numb areas.  And I will always have heart disease.  I will have to remember to take medication every day to lower my chances of having a heart attack.  The medicine helps my numbers but there is no cure.  So I don't think there is going to be a "back to normal" for me.   I think what I'm creating and working on now is a new normal.  It's still a work in progress.

Speaking of Trivial matters

OK, I've been thinking and ruminating on something all week.  I have often asked my husband to put the seat down after he uses the toilet.  I think there is a universal expectation that men must put the seat down after they are done.  Why do women expect this? Why don't men yell at women and ask why they didn't put the seat back up after they were finished?  I think I would if I were a man.

The Joy of Trivial matters

It occurred to me earlier this week that my mind was on more mundane things like home repair and gardening and spring cleaning.  I was actually glad because it meant that all my brain cells were NOT occupied with HEART HEALTH or lack thereof.  I'm still exercising and eating well it's just not as all encompassing as it has been.  I feel like I'm coming out of a fog, a rarified bubble of recovery.  I think this is a good thing.

Why is Wipeout so FUNNY!!

OK, so my family has been watching this show, Wipeout, for about a year now and we all think it is hysterical.  It's a game show of sorts and the contestants have to run through these very physical obstacles faster than other contestants to win $50,000.  They are constantly falling or getting hit by hidden doors or boxing gloves.  It's really hard to describe.  Also the hosts always give the contestants funny nicknames.  Our favorite was they guy who was going to use the money to have breast reduction surgery.  His nickname?  Manboobs.  I don't know, you just have to watch it for yourself.  We go to http://www.hulu.com/ and watch it there.  If you're in the mood for a sillly, mindless laugh, this is your show.  It appeals to our 6 year old and our soon to be 46 year old alike!