Which is the real killer: fat, sugar, or both?
Read Is Fat Killing You, or is Sugar?
Recently a friend of mine was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Usually I do not care about blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels, or whatnot, and will eat whatever I want, but this news freaked me out. I’m old, so this shit now affects me. I’ve given up white rice, soda (sob) and those bottled iced teas, which are just sugared water anyway. And I try to eat sensibly, which turns out to be a challenge for people who live on delivery and take-out.
My prescription for everything is still 8-9 hours of sleep a day, and avoiding stress. I quit writing columns because wringing 800 words out of every thought was becoming stressful. (After 20 years of column-writing, I’ve said everything I have to say at least thrice.) Freedom! Being able to watch a movie without reviewing it in my head! Just being!
Also, I’ve edited my newsfeeds because I do not need to hear of developments as they happen. The pronouncements of idiots get enough attention without having mine as well. There’s a difference between staying informed and drowning in breaking news. And a difference between news and stuff that gets spewed for the sake of spewing. Silence creates space for deep thought, and that freaks people out.
Are you drowning? Let me know if you need help editing your life.
Answers to questions you might be asking, unless you wandered onto this site purely by accident >>>
April 3rd, 2017 at 13:11
I’m drowning. I’ve been meaning to deactivate my FB because it spoils my mood, whether it’s photos of friends having meals or the latest inanity in the government I’m seeing. In general I don’t enjoy being coaxed into feeling whatever I need to feel for friends’ triumphs or tragedies. It’s exhausting. But that would mean not being able to ‘like’ my ‘friends’’ restaurant check-ins. What do I do. I’m keeping Twitter, though.
At the beginning of the year, I began this habit of ignoring FB messages (and messages from other apps too) and only responding at night or when I’m really, really free. It has done wonders for my reading. Having said these, I feel like a thoroughly unlikeable person.
April 3rd, 2017 at 16:37
Incidently.. I’m on the same track of trying to be healthy.
Last year, my friend moved to Chile. On the last possible moment I may see her face to face in this life (unless I went on a vacation to Chile), she made me promise a few things: (1) go to a place I’ve never been to, alone, and without my phone and (2) get a gym membership to be healthier..
I’ve so far progressed on the second one by not going to the gym but by buying the Fit Girl ebooks (they got me interested through their Instagram account). I haven’t done the whole Fit Girl life change but what changes have happened are encouraging.
I’m not yet exercising that much, just eating more healthy things. I was a bit sad because of my lack of progress but then Facebook reminded me of what I looked like last year, when I wasn’t eating and sleeping properly. Some of my back fat has disappeared. Ha!
Yep hopefully, when the days become warmer, I can walk more to and from work and add exercise to the life change.
One more thought on eating healthy: apparently eating more veggies is good for both my physical health and finances. The Lira exchange rate against the US dollar has been fluctuating since last year. So it has helped my budget to substitute veggies for meat :) Pinterest is useful for finding veggie recipes.
Here’s the changes I’ve made so far:
1. Trying my best to sleep at least 7 hours a night
2. Drinking more water (adding a sliced lemon helps me to consume more. At the same time, lemon is a natural source of vitamin C.)
3. Eating more veggies and fruit
April 4th, 2017 at 09:52
I’m trying to declutter my life. I quit watching Tagalog newscast because I find them OA in reporting (Noli is even making tingkayad when trying to speak louder) and I find the news too distressing. Switched to CNN.
I also unfollowed almost half of my FB friends and edited my newsfeed. If they post a lot of politics, sex scandals or those who type “Amen” after every sad photo, unfollow na.
Lately, I’m also disposing stuff, giving away clothes that no longer fit me to those who need it more. It actually feels good when you get detached from material things.
Still have a long way to go.
April 4th, 2017 at 11:58
deeperdigger: Good start. I often feel like I am drowning in stuff, so periodically I have a cleaning frenzy. Instead of wanting new things (clothes, tchotchkes, etc), I want more space.
Do you make lists of things to do? I find that it helps me get organized, even if I don’t finish all the items on my list.
And instead of keeping up with your friends’ lives online, why don’t you have an actual coffee or lunch? It’ll remind you of why you are friends in the first place.
April 4th, 2017 at 12:04
oriames: Walking is the only activity I engage in that qualifies as fitness haha. It clears my head, and I often get new ideas while walking.
If you’re only getting gym membership because you think you have to, you might end up wasting your money. Gradual changes might help better. Walk more, eat sensibly, get more sleep. There are so many varieties of tea in Istanbul markets, take the herbal ones like camomile to help you sleep.
April 4th, 2017 at 12:08
lestat: Don’t feel guilty. Unless the message is urgent, you do not have to reply pronto. Might be a good idea to designate a specific time for answering the day’s messages.
What has enriched your life: Reading fiction, or looking at pictures of other people’s meals?