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Thursday, 28 April 2016

Princess Health and April 28th, 2016 These Numbers. Princessiccia

Princess Health and April 28th, 2016 These Numbers. Princessiccia

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April 28th, 2016 These Numbers

Today has been a very long day. It's been a great day, but wow--long.

Today's schedule was tight. Morning show from 6am-9:15am, post show duties and production until 11am, doctor's appointment at 11:15am, speaking event/stand-up at AMBUCS at noon, back to the studio by 1:30pm, production until after 3pm, home by 3:30pm, a very short nap with 38 alarms set (okay-that's an exaggeration--but I did have 3 set), Ponca City Baseball press-box PA announcing of the seniors for senior night at 5:00pm, followed by a 25 minute stand-up set at the Hospice of North Central Oklahoma Volunteer Recognition/Awards Banquet.

I was offered dinner at the banquet, but I've never been able to eat before a performance, so I declined and opted for water until a later dinner. Honestly, I didn't plan well today. It was nearly eight hours between lunch and dinner, with nothing but coffee and water in between. I usually plan a little better than that, but I was okay--it was the exception, not the rule.

I spent way too much time wandering around the store figuring out dinner. In hindsight, I should have opted for a meal out, but I have this unwritten rule whereby, if I'm home--meaning, not traveling, I don't eat out twice in one day. My lunch was takeout, so this unwritten rule (one I've only broken a few times in two years) required a home cooked/prepared meal. The plan was simple--it was going to be salmon, until I arrived to find the seafood counter closed. I was literally a few minutes too late. Had I not stopped for a decaf coffee, I would have made it in time to that part of the store. The decaf was a compromise. I've never ordered a decaf that I can remember--but I wanted coffee--and I didn't want the caffeine--so I tried it and, not bad, really.

I settled on a turkey cheeseburger and fresh cut sweet potato fries for dinner. It was incredible!

My doctor's visit today was a lot of fun. Keep in mind, being near, at or above 500 pounds for almost two decades, I've had more than my share of horrible "these numbers will eventually kill you" type doctor visits. Today wasn't one of those. It was the exact opposite--and I'm immensely grateful. I'll recap the numbers and call it a night:

Blood pressure today was 130/74

My pulse: 54

Blood sugar: 86

Kidney and Liver function was in the optimal range

Total Cholesterol: 156 (down from 164 last year and 190 in 2014) (Optimal range: 100-200)

HDL (the good) Cholesterol: 43 (same as last year) (Optimal range: 40-125)

LDL (the bad) Cholesterol: 103 (down from 112 last year and 137 in 2014) (Optimal range: 0-129)

Triglycerides: 50 (Optimal range: 30-150)

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone: 1.898 (Optimal range: .300-5.000)

The only thing that was slightly low and in need of improvement was my protein level.

My protein total: 6.6 (optimal range is 6.7-8.2)

Albumin: (I have no idea what this is-but it's a protein number of some sort) 3.9 (optimal range 4.2-5.1)
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Bottom line: I'm VERY blessed. These numbers are beyond incredible. I'm grateful.

Whenever the doctor says- "Okay, everything looks great, try to eat a little more protein. I'll see you back here in a year." That's truly a wonderful thing.

I made it one more day. I maintained the integrity of my calorie budget, I remained abstinent from refined sugar and I exceeded my water goal. That's enough for today.

Oh--and I had the pleasure of seeing my friend Lance from the Opportunity Center. One of the AMBUCS brought him to the midday meeting where I was speaking. Lance is one of the most amazing people I know because of his natural happiness and enthusiasm for life despite incredible challenges. He listens to my radio show every day. Thank you, Lance, for being there!!
photo lance and me_zpszmvltas7.jpg

Today's Live-Tweet Stream:










































Thank you for reading and your continued support,
Strength,
Sean

Wednesday, 27 April 2016

Princess Health and April 27th, 2016 Toward Dreamland. Princessiccia

Princess Health and April 27th, 2016 Toward Dreamland. Princessiccia

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April 27th, 2016 Toward Dreamland

I'm still playing catch up on rest after yesterday's super-long day. I couldn't keep from a good nap this afternoon and now, I just took some melatonin and I'm ready for it to assist in escorting me toward dreamland very soon.

I have a doctor's appointment in the morning. I'll be meeting with Dr. Wilcox to go over the complete profile of numbers from last weeks blood lab workup. I love my doctor for many reasons--and mainly because he makes/takes the time to explain things well. I look forward to sharing the numbers in tomorrow night's edition. The numbers are extra interesting to me considering the records I've kept via MyFitnessPal and Twitter the last two years. I suppose it offers a clearer cause/effect understanding type dynamic. I have high hopes for great numbers. We'll see!

The next couple of days will be busy. Aside from regular morning show/production duties, I'm the guest speaker at AMBUCS immediately after my visit with the doctor, then I'm the guest stadium announcer late tomorrow afternoon for the high school baseball team senior night introductions. Immediately after the baseball team introductions, I'll be doing an opening stand-up performance at the Oscars themed Hospice Volunteer Awards Banquet--then Friday afternoon, I'm joining family in helping my oldest daughter and her husband move into their new house...followed by another opening stand-up comedy performance for the Arts and Humanities Council's Dead Metal Society rock and roll concert!

The good news--my weekend is fairly clear of set obligations--and to me, that means more opportunities to catch up on some projects needing my attention and of course, extra rest!!!

Speaking of rest--I'll allow the Tweets to take it the rest of the way tonight. I'm hitting the pillow!

Today's Live-Tweet Stream:






























Thank you for reading and your continued support,
Strength,
Sean
Princess Health and UnitedHealth will leave Ky. next year, leaving much of the state with only one or two choices for health insurance on exchange. Princessiccia

Princess Health and UnitedHealth will leave Ky. next year, leaving much of the state with only one or two choices for health insurance on exchange. Princessiccia

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UnitedHealth Group Inc. won't be participating in Kentucky's individual insurance plans offered through the Affordable Care Act marketplace next year, which could leave about 20 percent of the state with just one insurer to choose from for next year and another 22 percent with only two choices, according to an analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Including Kentucky, this brings the number of states the health insurer is quitting next year to 26, Zachary Tracer reports for Bloomberg.

"The company plans to halt sales of individual plans in Kentucky for 2017, both inside and outside the state�s Affordable Care Act exchange, as well as the small-business exchange," United said in a letter dated March 28 to the state�s insurance department, Tracer reports. Bloomberg noted that it obtained the letter through an open-records request.

United warned in November that this would likely happen after reporting that "low enrollment and high usage cost the company millions of dollars," USA Today reported.

�UnitedHealthcare�s intent to withdraw from the market was not unexpected,� Doug Hogan, a spokesman for the state Public Protection Cabinet, which oversees the state�s insurance regulator, said in an e-mail to Bloomberg. �Insurers across the country have been losing hundreds of millions of dollars in the Obamacare exchanges and can no longer sustain such heavy financial losses.�

The administration of Republican Gov. Matt Bevin is shutting down the state's Kynect exchange and moving its 100,000 or so users to the federal exchange, but plans on that exchange are offered state by state.

Bloomberg says it has confirmed that United is leaving at least 26 of the 34 states where it sold 2016 coverage, but will continue to offer small-business plans off the exchange. New York and Nevada confirmed for Bloomberg that United plans to sell ACA plans in those states next year. The company has also filed plans to participate in Virginia.

Tuesday, 26 April 2016

Princess Health and April 26th, 2016 100% Chance. Princessiccia

Princess Health and April 26th, 2016 100% Chance. Princessiccia

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April 26th, 2016 100% Chance

Today was one of those days that refused to stop. Part of my job is doing on-air weather coverage when storms threaten our listening area. The forecast this morning was calling for a 100% chance of severe storms. In several ways, the reaction to the forecast was unprecedented. We had school districts in our state closed by the threat. Cancellations of community activities came into our studios right and left throughout the day. Everyone was convinced, this would be the worst storm outbreak in a very long time. It wasn't good for some in this region. However, for the most part, our area was spared the worst. The added studio duties called for a sixteen hour day for me.

I planned well, made sure I had what I needed when I needed it--I leaned on coffee a little to help keep me alert and made it through, very well. I stayed connected with a couple of support buddies, I maintained the integrity of my maintenance calorie budget, I remained abstinent from refined sugar and I exceeded my water goal by 8oz. I'm calling it a successful day.

I'm letting the Tweets take it the rest of the way! It's time to sleep. The alarm is set for 4:30am, morning show at 6am. Luckily, no severe weather for our area in tomorrow's forecast!

Today's Live-Tweet Stream:




































Thank you for reading and your continued support,
Strength,
Sean

Princess Health and More than 100 at SOAR Substance Abuse Roundtable committed to work on prevention and treatment efforts in region. Princessiccia

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By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News

More than 100 people attended the Shaping Our Appalachian Region Substance Abuse Roundtable April 7 to learn about current research and emerging opportunities associated with substance abuse and intravenous drug use in region, according to a SOAR news release.

SOAR is a bipartisan effort to revitalize and diversify the economy in Kentucky's 54 Appalachian counties. It has advisory councils for each of its 10 areas of focus, one of which is community health and wellness.

That council's chair, former state health commissioner Dr. William Hacker, facilitated the roundtable at Natural Bridge State Resort Park.

As part of the solutions-driven discussion, Susan Zepeda, CEO of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, told the attendees that it is important to ask the right questions when gathering information about drug abuse to accurately depict what is going on in the region.

�When you ask people if they have a problem with prescription drugs they, of course, say no,� Zepeda said. �When you ask them if they know someone, like a family member or friend, that answer is very different.�

The group also discussed the importance of getting accurate data about substance abuse and overdose into the right hands to make progress on these issues.

�We want to get data into the hands of legislators and those who can do something about prescription-drug overdose,� said Dana Quesinberry, public-health-policy and program evaluator for the Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center at the University of Kentucky. �Sitting in a repository, it doesn�t do anything for anyone.�

The roundtable members also discussed needle-exchange programs, authorized under the state's 2015 anti-heroin law. The program is meant to slow the spread of HIV and hepatis C, which are commonly spread by sharing of needles among intravenous drug users.

�We�ve seen a switch from using pills as an opioid to using intravenous methods,� said Greg Lee, the HIV/AIDS continuing-education program director for the state Cabinet for Health and Family Services.

Clark County Health Director Scott Lockard said the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a "wake-up call" with its report identifying 54 Kentucky counties as being among the 220 most vulnerable in the nation for the rapid spread of HIV and hepatitis C infection among intravenous drug users. Most of the counties, and eight of the top 10, were Appalachian.

"We are potentially on the leading edge of one of the biggest public health crises to hit our state," Lockard said in an e-mail to Kentucky Health News. "It will take a combined effort across sectors to prevent an HIV outbreak in the SOAR region such as the one that occurred in Scott County, Indiana," just north of Louisville.

Although many Kentucky county officials are talking about needle-exchange programs, so far only Louisville and Lexington and the counties of Boyd, Carter, Clark, Elliott, Franklin, Grant, Harrison, Jessamine, Knox, Pendleton and Pike are either operating or have approved such programs. Of these, Boyd, Carter, Clark, Elliott, Knox and Pike are part of SOAR.

The news release noted that participants left the discussion with a commitment to continue the conversation and to build a strategic plan to address substance abuse issues in the region, with a focus on clinical practices, health systems, drug screenings and other best practices.

Monday, 25 April 2016

Princess Health and April 25th, 2016 Beautiful Harmony. Princessiccia

Princess Health and April 25th, 2016 Beautiful Harmony. Princessiccia

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April 25th, 2016 Beautiful Harmony

It was the last ten minutes of my radio show when I noticed guests making their way into our studio lobby. Did I miss a scheduled interview? I didn't think so-- and what's this? They're carrying boxes! Just then, I realized--it was the Perkins Restaurant and Bakery crew, a good client of ours, bringing edible gifts!! And they brought them directly into the KPNC studio, loading the counter with pies and muffins until the thick smell of sugar filled the room.

Years ago, I would have quietly grabbed one of the pies and put it aside for a private rendezvous, later--away from any possible witnesses, when I could devour until pleasure transformed into discomfort.

I didn't do that today. The peace, clarity, balance and stability my plan, with its abstinence from refined sugar, provides--is worth more to me than any expertly crafted pie or muffin, or several.

And these were seriously works of art (check out the Live-Tweet Photos below). And I can appreciate that part of it--and I can joyously decline partaking while feeling happy for the others who excitedly scooped up the bakery compliments.

I'm so grateful that I've reached a point in my abstinence where a situation like this isn't much of a threat. BUT--that doesn't mean I don't take precautions.

One of the things I embrace each day is this: My continued success is NEVER a guaranteed thing. I do not use the word "never" when I talk about my continued abstinence from refined sugar. I simply say, I hope and pray I never go back there. Okay, so maybe I do use the word "never," but in a very different way. There's no question about how refined sugar affects me. I'm fully aware--yet, I'm never beyond relapse. So, I do what might seem to be little things that bring big support. 

I share the situation. The below tweets concerning this kind circumstance (and it was a very kind and generous gesture--and it was well received) might seem like simple, somewhat casual, slightly serious--slightly humorous, tweets--but on a deeper level, it was my way of sharing the situation. I also texted a support buddy--not to say, "I'm in trouble," because I didn't feel that way--it was to simply share the situation. And those acts of sharing create an even stronger resolve, in beautiful harmony with my plan.

Within fifteen minutes the studio was clear of the bakery items. A couple of pies were immediately delivered to clients in close proximity, the rest were claimed by colleagues planning to surprise their families with an amazing dessert.

I made my way upstairs for a mid-morning coffee and a banana with 16g natural peanut butter. I love the coffee even more when it's coupled with peanut butter!
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After a full day at the studio, I made my way to the store to grab a few ingredients for tonight's dinner plans. I made it home in time to seize a very controlled forty-five minute nap before jumping up and getting on the Monday night teleconference support group I co-facilitate with Life Coach Gerri and Kathleen Miles.

Then, it was time to try another recipe from Joy Bauer's newest book!

I decided on the fettuccine alfredo!  

The picture in the below dinner Tweet doesn't do it justice! Every bite was cheesy delicious. Oh my-- easy-easy-easy, and incredibly delicious.

I live alone, so, most of the time I cook for just me. I cut the recipe into fourths and it was more than enough for one. I also added 4.4oz of chicken and 2oz sliced mushrooms.

I allowed the sauce to thicken a little too much-- I think the picture would have had more color otherwise. I didn't completely "nail it," but still, the flavors were alive with every bite!

The calorie count of the dish without the chicken and mushrooms added was 452, 88 calories over the recipe nutrition information. I attribute this to using 3oz pasta--remembering that I quartered the recipe--instead of one fifth, per the recipe breakdown.

Adding the chicken and mushrooms brought the entire meal in at just under 600 calories--fitting nicely in my weight maintenance calorie budget.

I chose this recipe for a reason. If you're a regular reader of this blog and/or you follow the Tweet stream, you know I occasionally prepare a similar dish using whole grain pasta, mixed veggies, mushrooms and sometimes chicken, other times just vegetables. Every time I've prepared it, I've always used the heavily processed jar of reduced calorie alfredo. Of course I scan the ingredients list for "sugar" or any synonyms of refined sugar--but still, I'm never really satisfied with the long list of things I can't pronounce in the ingredients list.

Now--I'll never need to buy another jar of heavily processed reduced calorie alfredo sauce, ever again! Thank you, Joy!

And seriously, this super-simple recipe using real ingredients tastes much better than any jar stuff I've tried! It's a keeper--and now I've added another item to the variety of my available choices!

The parmesan, the creaminess and flavor of the cream cheese/milk base, and the sea salt/back pepper---oh my...it made for a fantastic dinner experience!
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I'm caught up with shipping outstanding orders of Transformation Road and mp3 unabridged audio editions. If you've been patiently waiting for yours, thank you! All three of you will be receiving your copies within two days! :)

I sincerely appreciate everyone who has ordered copies of my book lately in various e-reader formats, the Audible.com audio version and in paperback via various booksellers, and mostly Amazon.com. I've always offered a way for you to order directly from me instead of these options--but now, temporarily, that direct option via my website is unavailable while transformationroad.com undergoes a total reconstruction. In the meantime, you can still order a copy directly from me by simply emailing your request to transformation.road@gmail.com. When you do, I'll email you an invoice and ship your copy! And by the way--the unabridged audio version mp3 disc with free shipping anywhere in the world, is still available as a complimentary gift with your donation of at least $20 to the DDWL! You can find the donation link in the upper left hand corner on the web version of this blog.

I finished up tonight by staying in with an excellent body weight strength training routine in my living room. It took all of twelve minutes to get in a very nice, focused workout. It's getting more and more difficult to justify not doing this--when it takes so little time.

Today's Live-Tweet Stream:










































Thank you for reading and your continued support,
Strength,
Sean
Princess Health and Levels of suspected 'hormone disruptors' in teen girls dropped after they switched to products that didn't contain them . Princessiccia

Princess Health and Levels of suspected 'hormone disruptors' in teen girls dropped after they switched to products that didn't contain them . Princessiccia

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A recent study found that after three days of not using personal-care products that contain "problematic substances," the levels of chemicals that potentially disrupt hormones in the bodies of teenage girls dropped, Environmental Working Group Vice Preisdent Alex Formuzis writes for its Enviroblog.

The study, led by Kim Harley of the Center for Environmental Research and Children�s Health at the University of California-Berkeley, asked 100 Latina girls between 14 and 18 years old to not use personal-care products such as cosmetics, shampoos and soaps, for three days and instead to only use products free of the suspected hormone disruptors: phthalates, parabens and triclosan. The girls, all volunteers, were given products that did not contain these chemicals.

After three days, the teens' urine tests showed a 44 percent decrease in the levels of methyl and propyl parapen, preservatives widely used in cosmetics, shampoos and skin lotions; a 35 percent decrease in triclosan, a commonly used antibacterial chemical that has been linked to the disruption of thyroid and reproductive hormones; and a 27 percent decrease in mono-ethyl phthalates, a common industrial plasticizer found in some nail polishes and fragrances.

�Techniques available to consumers, such as choosing personal care products that are labeled to be free of phthalates, parabens, triclosan, and oxybenzone, can reduce personal exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals,� the study authors wrote. �Our study did not test for the presence of these chemicals, but simply used techniques available to the average consumer: reading labels and investigating product safety through web-based databases.�

The study, published in Environmental Health Perspectives, notes that the study shows that "consumers may be able to reduce exposures to these chemicals by seeking out commercially available products with lower levels of these chemicals."

However, Formuzis pointed out that the federal Food and Drug Administration has "virtually no authority" over this industry and notes that this study helps to, "underscores the need to regulate the personal care products industry."

Legislation by U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), proposes to do just that.

"The Feinstein-Collins Personal Care Products Safety Act would give the FDA tools for ensuring the safety of personal care products as strong as those that regulate food and drugs," Formuzis writes. The bill would require the FDA to investigate the safety of five cosmetics ingredients and contaminants yearly; cosmetic makers would have to register their manufacturing facilities,disclose their ingredients, report health incidents related to their products, and label their products with disclosures and warnings as needed; and it would allow the FDA the authority to recall dangerous products.

Formuzis reports that "some of the corporations backing the Feinstein-Collins bill include Revlon, Johnson & Johnson, Proctor & Gamble, Unilever, L�Oreal, California Baby and the industry trade organization, the Personal Care Products Council."
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