Fabulous Freedom February

[Lavande]

Greetings friends!

I was itchy to leave the house this morning so I am just now stopping to say hello while I eat lunch

Star, your color scheme sounds very pretty, save us a pic when it's done!
Have fun with your piano this weekend.

I think the best information about prebiotics can be found here-
The Best Prebiotic Foods for Optimal Digestive Health | One Green Planet
I use garlic & onion in my everyday cooking. I make sure to use lots of fermented foods (non-dairy for me).
Americans have a crappy diet filled with chemical preservatives, artificial flavors & colors. We take too many antibiotics & other Rx meds that destroy our normal gut flora. The majority of our immune system lives in our gut (good bacteria, bad bacteria). When we disrupt the balance in there we leave ourselves open to attacks by virus & bacterial infections, develop GI problems & even depression (there's a strong mind/gut connection). If we want to get & stay healthy we have to work on our gut balance

Dill, any pill needs to be enteric coated to completely survive the stomach acid it meets. The coating will keep the pill intact until it passes through to the small intestine. I know there are some enteric coated probiotic on the market but they are pretty expensive. For my purposes I have found taking mine with a meal works OK. If I have eaten something that totally disagrees with me & cause me GI distress then I will take my probiotic 2X/day until my gut settles down again. The biggest problem I have is eating out & accidently ingesting the dairy that they sneak into everything, ugh.
I would be very careful taking bicarb - throws your electrolytes off, increases B/P, etc.
Nexium has been found to cause osteoporosis & fractures in women, probably in men too. That's why I hate Rx meds!!

Hi there Pauly, nice you slept in a bit. My big dog was up twice during the night & I couldn't go back to sleep after the second time, oh well.

Hi there Cyn!!

Have a great AF Friday everyone!

Lav

[paulywogg]

I had to take baking soda for heartburn last night, yuck! Did you see the new study that says Prilosec and other heartburn meds cause Alzheimer's now? It was all over the news yesterday, can't take anything I swear

[Lavande]

That's why I stay away from Rx meds Pauly unless it is absolutely necessary.
Sometimes the cure is worse than the disease

[SnoopyC]

Good morning all...

Thanks for the encouragement with the paint colors. I always worry that the color scheme will look weird or something when repainting is done. Decorating can be stressful.

Lav, I try and take no pills, period. I was taking an antihistimine for a while on a regular basis and felt dried out, so quit taking those. I never realized OTC pills could not be good for you, but realize that now. I do better on simple food, eggs for breakfast, salad for lunch, protein and veggies for dinner. If I eat like that I feel great. Everyone is different though and has to find what works for them.

Pauly, sorry you don't feel well.

Dill, I opened my windows yesterday, it was windy but warm. Today, it should be sunny and in the low 60s, so more open door action here. Sorry your hubby is not feeling well.

Cyn, hope things are going well for you.

Just wanted to say I am thankful for this thread and your support on a daily basis. I know our thread has shrunk, but it is important to me. Have a great AF Saturday.

[dill]

Hello Friends,
Pauly, I heard that about prilosec and really all the stomach acid inhibitors. They talked about it on the news last week which was what prompted Mr. D to try to get off his. I decided to do the same. So far, so good for me. He's been having a bit more trouble with it than I.

Star, I know how you feel about this thread. I have felt the same way for a long time. I do know that eventually I will have to leave the thread some day. Just not ready yet! I know what you mean about the stress of decorating and choosing colors. I've had the experience of making some doozy mistakes! I picked a color one time that was SO bad once it was up on the wall that we simply had to paint over it immediately! LOL

Lav, The article I read the other day about probiotics suggested taking them on an emply stomach because taking them with food increases the exposure to stomach acids that are released to digest the food. They suggested trying to get it thru the stomach with as litte exposure to the acid as possible. But, they also talked about using enteric coated as a good alternative, like you said. I don't have a problem with my gut tho. I was reading it on behalf of Mr. D.

Cyn, I hope. you are doing well and that you have time to pop in today.

My gdaughter will be here today for our usual overnight. It's 50 degrees out right now and supposed to get even warmer! It feels like spring! Have a great af Satureay everyone.

[Lavande]

Good Saturday morning friends!

Can't wait for this warmish weather to arrive. I am getting sick of winter & mud, ha ha!!
I have had hot flashes waking me up at 5 am all week which usually means it's warming up outside.

I also keep adjusting my diet & supplements depending on how I feel. Honestly, I get tired of all the planning & cooking of meals but it's what I have to do. Sometimes one meal out causes me days of feeling 'off', who needs that?

Dill, I have also read about taking your probiotics on an empty stomach. It probably is a good idea if it's something you can tolerate. I am just not able to take anything on an empty stomach, that's just me. I dole out the supplements to go along with breakfast & dinner. I think we all need to pay attention to our vitamin D & calcium intake. Even though I have taken these supplements since the age of 30 I still developed pretty severe osteoporosis. I think the genetic factor is strong since my mom had it too & apparently I do not absorb nutrients properly. Here's the latest recommendations: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/...ter11pg12.html

Hello to Star, Pauly & Cyn.
Have a great AF day everyone!

Lav

[paulywogg]

Morning friends,Lav,I can't take stuff on an empty stomach either,makes me nauseous, I read conflicting reports on empty or not empty with regards to probiotic taking though,some reports say food helps,who knows? I just take them and hope its getting where it needs to,Dill,why would you have to leave the thread someday? We're always open I'd feel weird if I didn't post daily or at least try to anyways,Kell,Lou and I went to the other side of town yesterday to try a sandwich shop,it was good but Lou wouldn't eat of course,that kid I swear he starves then goes on binges! Stopped into TJ Maxx and I bought a bra and too cute to wear underwear(I like my cotton)but they were cheap so I got them,Kell wanted to leave I think cuz there's a TJ by my work I used to give her money to go to so I could hit the bar when she was a teen poor thing being in there yesterday might have made her feel anxious, hello Star,Cyn,hope we all have a super,sober Saturday

[Lavande]

Pauly, the probiotic will definitely help regardless of how/when you take it but you really need to work on cleaning up your diet at the same time. Believe me I was as sad as anything when I finally accepted that I could no longer tolerate dairy. But I got to the point where I just had to make a choice. Up until that point I was still sneaking a little dairy in from time to time but I just got tired of being sick I really have to go easy on the gluten too or I have to deal with abdominal & joint pain - that's no fun.
I think the longer you are AF the more your kids will relax around you, mine did. Just be sure to let them know that you are happy about your choice to eliminate AL & plan to stay that way!!

Cyn contacted me on Facebook & wants everyone to know that she is fine but her laptop is not! She's having password troubles on this site & hopes to get it resolved soon. That's why I like being in touch with people on Facebook as well as here - good backup

Peace to all tonight!

[SnoopyC]

Good morning...

Lav, thanks for letting us know about Cyn. Looking forward to having her back.

Dill, I will probably be on MWO indefintely, it just takes a few minutes from my day and the support is so valuable to me. It was lovely here today too, in the 60s, I had the windows open,did some spring cleaning, it felt so good.

Pauly, it takes time to figure out what foods to eat, supplements to take. I find keeping it simple to work. I never do well on holidays or vacation, eating different foods. Stomach issues, etc., when I eat lots of sugar, dairy, fats, and chocolate. All the good stuff.

Have a great AF Sunday.

[Lavande]

Good Sunday morning friends,

Grateful I didn't have to get up once or twice during the night with my older dog. Geez, it's getting tough with her. Of course then there's my chronic 5am hot flash problem too, ha ha!!
We did have milder temps yesterday & will have the same today. I hear there will be rain the next 5 days, oh well.

Dill, I hope you are having a good granddaughter weekend!
I enjoyed having mine here last weekend. We will be having a small family party next weekend for her 5th birthday
I hope you stay connected with us, we really need each other I think.

Star, it's a shame but I almost cringe at the thought of eating out at certain places anymore. We all like a break from the kitchen now & then, at least I do. I would be overwhelmingly joyous if a vegan restaurant opened somewhere around here, ha ha!!!

Greetings to Pauly & Cyn! Glad I see both of you on FB.

Have a great AF day everyone!

Lav

[paulywogg]

Morning friends,Lav,I really had to summon you last night!! Everything you've ever said about not letting YB drag you down,I had to use,my hubs is acting nuts! He wants to quit his job,accusing me of cheating(as if I have the time OR energy) doenst want to file taxes cuz he owes,mopes around, grrrrrrrr,how do I distance myself? He's supposed to be my friend and be supportive,I'm doing a really good job and last night I felt like he was trying to drive me to drink,maybe that's just in my head but he was still being an ass,I feel like crying but I can't, tears won't come so I hafta deal with a rapid heart rate and headache cuz I'm anxious, then he has the nerve to ask why I'm mad at him,duh? Just gotta relax,screw him if he wants to be a turd,I ain't dealing whiny brats,anyways,think I'll take a walk to the store and get some turkey sausage and eggs,hope we all have a nice Sunday,sorry for the rant,just need advice/help

[dill]

Good evening Friends,

Pauly, I didn't mean to sound dramatic or anything when I said I would have to leave the thread someday. I was just thinking in terms of "all good things come to an end" and/or "for everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven". Nothing more than that. Sorry your hb is acting like such a jerk! I know how you are feeling. Hang in there.:hug: Put some space between you. I can't help but wonder where his behavior is coming from tho. We all have our moments, don't we.

Lav, thanks for letting us know that Cyn is OK. I hope she gets her issues worked out and can get back to us soon. I had a great time with my granddaughter and as a bonus, grandson came along too! The weather could not have been any better, so a great weekend was had by all! LOL

Star, This thread has been a Godsend to me, so I do know what you mean. Also, I still have my fingers and toes crossed for your son. I hope something good comes his way soon.

[Lavande]

Pauly, something you may or may not know.........
Men also have mood swings (similar to PMS). The moods don't come as often but when they do they are much more harsh. I have been told this by a few well respected psychologists. I first recognized the male mood swings when we were in our mid to late 20's. I hoped it was something he would 'grow out of' at some point. Yeah, that didn't happen
Give yourself some distance, like a safety net. Go take a walk or go for a ride or put on some headphone & listen to a guided meditation. Don't feel like you have to take responsibility for his thinking - you do not!!

Dill, I'm glad you enjoyed have the grandkids over. They are fun, exhausting but fun. I ended up feeding my son & the boys tonight, my DIL was busy elsewhere.

Gearing up for a rainy week ahead, oh well.

[SnoopyC]

Good morning...

Pauly, my husband has made my life feel crazy in the past, I just did the best I could, too. Talked to my one friend who died, she knew us so well, and was a great resource. I think if we stay married long enough, it happens, we make it through, then have a good period of time. I liked Lav's suggestions, distance yourself for a time. And, you get to work tomorrow, I always find it is good to get away when there is a tough time.

Lav, I was reflecting on the challenges I have been through in just the last few years and realize that my life has not been easy, but then whose life is easy? Lately my husband has been saying he wants to move again! Really? I told him I am not moving, he wants a bigger yard or something. I want to stay put, we live in a city now, like the neighborhood, feel relatively safe, and want to pay this house off. Sometimes I think you just have to make up your mind to be happy exactly where you are at the present moment. Sounds like we all have things to deal with.

Dill, thanks for sending positive thoughts about my son. He has had no luck with a job, not sure exactly how hard he is working, and I am starting to have real anxiety about the entire situation. To the point that I am waking up in the middle of the night. I just don't get why he won't look for part time work while he is looking for the job of his dreams. He is a financial drain, and I am pretty sick of it already. If I say anything, and believe me I do, then I am being a bi***. Always something with him, time to grow up, work hard, and quit mooching off his parents. That said, my daughter came over yesterday with my grandson and we had a lovely day, it was warm and sunny out, then we shopped for a bit and cooked out. It was fun. I guess life is like that, a mix of good and bad, all in the same day. Drinking over any of this would be a disaster, so happy to be able to be upset AF.

Have a good one.

[paulywogg]

Hey all,Star,at least your son is looking, Michelle is doing absolutely nothing! I was headed downstairs to exercise this morning and guess who's stumbling through the door? Everyone says its time for some tough love but if I kick her out again she's got nowhere to go,we always set a good example as far aswork goes,despite the drinking,i dunno why she and little Bobbi are bums haha,Lav,I've always wondered about male pms,hubs is usually soooo positive he's annoying but when he's gets moody it feels foreign to me, Dill and Cyn hope you both had a nice weekend, for the first time in awhile I have Mondayitis hope it passes,and I hope we all have an easy day