Gifts of Weight Watchers

There are many, of course, good gifts of Weight Watchers.
One of my current favorites is the list of Core Foods. Whether one is on the Core Plan or the Flex Plan, the list of Core Foods is an insightful list of the good healthy foods: eaten just a serving at a time, ... a life-giving "core" of first choice foods to live on.

My resolve to lose 10 pounds in 10 weeks did not result in 10 pounds lost, but did result in a good reward of 3 pounds lost. I am below goal weight, but 3 pounds less to lug along on races is delight.

Appreciate a flower today: on the best day of the year. Happy birthday to special people born on this day.

Before the Races

Runner Honey and Runner Partner Daughter, in Minnehaha Park, checking out the finish line for the Get in Gear 10K: up the West River Road along the Mississippi, across Lake Street Bridge and back down the East River Road to the Ford Bridge. Twenty degrees hotter than last year.. could be the reason that each of us finished 2 minutes longer.

Picture at right: dogs and owners gathering for the Run and Romp race in Shoreview, benefit races for Helping Paws training program.

Balance

Woman interviewed in Denmark:
"I don't put dreams up there so I can't reach them."

Hypothyroid Help

My daughter and I have both been diagnosed with hypothyroid, indicating a low-functioning thyroid gland. For a short time we took prescription Synthroid, a synthetic thyroid hormone which replaces some of the hormone which would be produced by a normal thyroid gland. A similar hormone is also available as a prescription generic drug.

Synthetic thyroid has its own problems, however. In particular, some doctors believe that the thyroid gland may continue to lose function because of the influence of the synthetic. Further, for some people, the dosage of synthetic must be frequently monitored and adjusted to maintain balance.

After consulting a naturopathic doctor, we have both been using an over-the-counter natural supplement rather than the synthetic hormone. The supplement contains bovine thyroid tissue along with minerals that are known to support normal human thyroid function. We also eat two to four fresh, raw Brazil nuts each day, as a natural source of selenium.

Because raw broccoli/cabbage family foods may depress thyroid function, we eat those vegetables steamed. We avoid soy beans, soy oil,and peanuts.
We are taking a multiple vitamin, additional vitamin D, and calcium.
Several times a week we walk or run.

Within the last month, we both got normal thyroid test results at our medical clinic.

There are many thyroid-support supplements on the market. We use Spectra 303-T from NF Formulas Inc, and take one tablet per day. It is available at www.drugnatural.com and is reasonably priced. We each take one tablet each morning. Supplement facts:

Iodine 225 mcg 150% DV (DV=daily value)
Zinc 10 mg 67% DV
Copper 500 mcg 25% DV
L-Tyrosine 100 mg
Thyroid tissue, bovine 100 mg

Camera Pictures

Saturday we went to the Trail Mix races, where slow runners are not allowed, but Sweet Daughter and I had a splendid time with a little digital camera. The runners smiled for us! You can see some of the pictures and a slide show at THIS LINK.

Pictures on the Long Day

Click on a photo to enlarge it. If Blogger not working, please return tomorrow. Sorry.

21.6 Miles: Marathon Coming

Down to Afton ice cream store & back: 10 miles
Back from the park: 5.4 miles
In the neighborhood: 6.2 / Total= 21.6 miles

Easter/ Spring Dinner

We brought the dinner to 90-something parents

Salad: romaine (organic), fresh oranges, sliced fennel, diced cucumber, chives, thawed frozen peas, olive oil, raspberry vinegar
Carrots (by Sweet Pea): peeled, sliced, steamed in a covered frying pan, with dried organic apricot slices, grated organic lemon zest, 1/4 garlic clove, chopped, lots of chopped pistachio nuts

Fresh spring asparagus, oven roasted with olive oil & butter. Add sliced leek in last 10 minutes (375 degrees, maybe 20 minutes?)

Parsnips, peeled and cut in chunks. Roasted with the meat in little blue roaster
Pork loin roast, roasting time depends on size of roast, 375-400. Sauce recipe for roast: Combine in saucepan, bring to a boil, pour over roast and parsnips
1/2 cup real maple syrup, 1/4 cup honey, 1 teaspoon each.. ginger, ground cloves, coriander; 1/4 teaspoon turmeric (good-health spices)
Orange gelatin by Dave; 10 grain rolls by C&D (no trans fat: Bob's Red Mill mix)

Real Key lime pie with graham cracker (no hydrogenated oil) crust, freshly whipped cream. Thanks C & D
Spring tablecloth was a Mother's Day gift to my Mom, when we were kids.

Blessings at Easter

Easter is now ... God is peaking out in the world ... Look past all the violence and disappointment to see love happening ... Notice the presence of the Spirit.

Let us sing hymns of praise... Alleluia!!

Walk/Run 40 Mile Week

Well, yes, that includes the mostly-walking in the MOA (Mall of America), but our estimate of 18 miles in 7 hours is conservative.
Thursday we did a 4K at the community club in the morning and again in the afternoon.
This week we took only one day off.

Didn't do the Challenge Obesity Run around Lake Como this morning. Wind 18 mph; wind chill zero. This is the fifth (I can't believe it!) Saturday morning race since Thanksgiving that my Running Partner Daughter and I have not run (or finished) because of miserable weather. We can't remember ever, before this year, registering for a race and not running it... ever.

We are counting the miles per week, starting with Saturday, ending with Friday, so our 7K run this morning counts for next week. Good thing, too, because getting in a run on Easter Day is not going to happen.
Feeling good. Concerned about myeloma developments. Planning the Easter dinner menu. Celebrating this day.

Seven Hour Walk at Mall of America

Seven hours on our feet: 9:57am - 5:00pm.
Running Partner Daughter and I were Mall of America mall walkers today.
Endurance cross-training for the next marathon.

And what a day we picked! When we arrived the Mall of America was already alive with noise and activity. It was Toddler Tuesday.
This being Holy Week, and apparently spring break week for many schools, by noon the teens begin to arrive. And plenty of adults for anyone into people-watching.
We didn't have too much difficulty maintaining a brisk walk.
However, noise level kept conversation to a minimun toward the end of the afternoon.
I need not have worried that anyone would notice a couple of mall walkers.

We made quick trips to the car, parked nearby in the ramp, for water, Gatorade All Stars drink, pretzels, organic ginger cookies, homemake peanut butter sandwiches on whole wheat bread, and the wonderful organic jelly beans from Sun Ridge Farms (ordered by our favorite order-on-the-internet person.) Ended up saving the apples and bananas for later.

We purchased lattes twice, plus a couple of other items, so we were not loitering.
Drove home in snow: this is April?

We think we may have walked (with a few steps of running every now and then) a good eighteen miles. We feel good; it is a good day.

An Alleluia Palm Sunday Morning

Sunday morning sunrise is precious territory of clergy (and church sextons and some of the musicians). The world sometimes seems holy in the quiet dawn. Around here, only early risers were gifted by sunshine and blue sky today. I did.. really.. take the picture above this morning. What a glorious calm after the rain yesterday!

Sunrise ... shared by all who choose to be there... is also in the domain of runners. Runner Partner Daughter and I had two good 6 mile runs today. Fun to see Runner Dude and Speedy Friend Jim along the way. Partner spotted the white tails of five deer fleeing into the woods, and pointed out the cardinals. She is great company.

It was brisk.. in the 40s... knees covered... unlined jackets.. polar vests underneath.. visors, as usual. As we ran, the sky clouded over and the wind picked up some.

This past week my mind was focused some on writing that “what you have been doing with your life” thing for my high school reunion. Wow! Too many years for a “summary”?! I chose to write about the last ten, since we had a reunion ten years ago. The essence of all that went before, is reflected in what is now.

Also, We Two Cooks, here, did some creative cooking. Tuesday, Sookie’s American Sign Language friend was here for stir fried chicken with asparagus, ginger and garlic; and leek & celery pie with mint, dill, parsley, and whole wheat/yogurt crust. Wednesday, Duluth Son was here for roast chicken with rosemary & parsley; broccoli with sliced almonds; and sweet potato galette with ginger. (And I think he finished up with some Breyer’s ice cream.)

Yesterday we drove to Lake Harriet, picked up our shirts and registrations. For the third time in four months, the weather was so dreadful for running that we passed up the race and elected to run at the community center. (The Reindeer Run in December, the Valentine 5K in February, and yesterday, the Colon Cancer Get Your Rear in Gear) Stopped off at Whole Foods for organic apples, chard, haddock and whole grain noodles on our way.

Although it was sad to miss our race yesterday, the spring rain was welcome, of course. Afternoon was cozy, warm and dry... indoors.

Palm Sunday.. An alleluia day! All the days are alleluia days for families surviving myeloma or any other cancer. Precious... sometimes clouded over.. but precious.. holy... blessed... alleluia days. Amen.